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Symptoms of a Seizure in Sleep

Length and severity of seizures can be used to diagnose several different forms of epilepsy. Epilepsy and sleep have a complex relationship due to the large amount of brain activity, especially during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. There are a few types of epileptic disorders that triggers during sleep, and most of those begin during childhood. Some people experience these and don't know it. If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing seizures during sleep, schedule an appointment with a physician, neurologist or a sleep specialist.

  1. Nocturnal Seizures

    • Nocturnal seizures typically begin during childhood. The cause is unknown, but they can have serious effects on daily life by interrupting sleep patterns. There are several symptoms of nocturnal seizures, but they are not independently used to diagnose this form of epilepsy. Incontinence is a common symptom; as is tongue biting and drooling. Many patients awaken for no specific reason and tend to be confused or aggitated; often they experience short attacks of amnesia. More serious symptoms include tonic-clonic movements, or what is generally referred to as "epileptic fits." Many of these attacks occur during sleep, but have been experienced while awake.

    Benign Rolandic Epilepsy

    • Another form of epilepsy that occurs often during sleep is benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) or benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS). They are considered benign because most patients will "outgrow" this form of epilepsy. They are considered partial seizures because only the rolandic area of the brain is affected. Most children who experience this form of seizure are otherwise healthy and experience little to no developmental problems. Symptoms appear between the age of 3 and 10 years of age and include a variety of forms. Twitching or stiffness can occur often coupled with incontinence. Difficulty speaking or confusion and amnesia can occur upon sudden waking. Other symptoms can include what are referred to as sensory seizures, numbness or tingling in the face, tongue or throat.

    Other Epileptic Disorders

    • Diagnosis of epileptic disorders requires observation by a trained professional. There are a large variety of symptoms in epileptic disorders, and epilepsy can be caused by a number of reasons or some times no reason at all. Epilepsy that appears to have no observable cause or trigger is referred to as idiopathic epilepsy. Common causes for epilepsy can include head trauma, infection and fever, drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol withdrawal, genetic or congenital conditions and brain tumors. But again it is important to understand, sometimes there is no identifiable cause.

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