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Understanding Seizures and Autism: Causes, Symptoms, and Safety Tips

What Are Seizures?

A seizure is a temporary, abnormal firing of the cells in the brain. There are many types of seizures that appear in a wide variety of ways. Different types of seizures may affect a child’s life differently and may have different treatments. A single seizure does not usually require treatment because it is not uncommon for a person to experience one seizure and never have another one. Having one seizure does NOT mean that a person has epilepsy.


What Forms Can Seizures Take?

People may typically think of violent shaking on the ground when they hear the word seizure. But seizures can take many forms. Features can include:

  • Staring off with a glassy expression, usually such that no one can get the child’s attention, even through tickling or light pinching.
  • Sustained limb or body tensing, stretching or bending.Rhythmical, repeated muscle movements.
  • Quick twitches.
  • Eyeball twitching.

There are, however, causes of these spells other than seizures, so it is important to discuss the symptoms and your child’s condition with a neurologist to determine whether or not your child is actually having seizures. A very important thing you can do is take videos of your child’s events. This is often the most helpful piece in the puzzle for the doctor to figure out whether the spells are seizures or not.

What Is the Link Between Epilepsy and Autism?

The link between these two disorders is complex. Researchers are currently dedicating a lot of effort to uncover the links, as they may help us better understand the causes and potential treatments of both epilepsy and autism. The lifetime risk for epilepsy in a child with autism is around 20%—about 20 times greater than people not on the spectrum. Additionally, the risk of autism in children with epilepsy is also increased. Certain gene mutations have been found both in types of epilepsy and cases of autism. An extremely rare form of epilepsy, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, in which there is continuous abnormal electrical brain activity at night, is known to cause symptoms similar to autism. Aggressive and complex treatments may be able to reverse the epilepsy and autistic symptoms in a small number of cases. In general, however, the treatments for epilepsy in individuals with autism are identical to those for individuals who have epilepsy but no autism. Autistic symptoms generally do not change when the seizures are treated.

Additionally, children with autism are known to have abnormalities on EEGs that suggest epilepsy—despite the fact that the child has never had a seizure. The importance of these findings is a matter of debate. Some doctors have been known to prescribe seizure medications for these EEG abnormalities, but it is not known that this treatment—which has potential side effects—can produce benefits to the autistic symptoms.

What Should Parents Do If Their Child Has a Seizure?

Taking care of a child with a medical condition can sometimes take extra care and knowledge. Knowing what to do when your child has a seizure is both important and empowering. Following these basic instructions can help to keep a person having a seizure safe:

  • Remain calm.
  • Try to make the person having the seizure as safe as possible. Move them to the ground, in a clear area away from anything they could injure themselves with or on. If possible, place them on their side to prevent aspiration in case they vomit.
  • Do NOT restrain the person having the seizure or put anything into their mouth.Whenever possible, try to time the seizure. Seizures usually seem to last much longer than they actually do.
  • A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is a medical emergency and you should call emergency. If applicable, deliver rescue medicines as directed by the child’s doctor.
  • After the seizure is over, try to reassure the person who had the seizure. They will likely be confused. Stay with them as they recover.

In addition to the above tips, it can be helpful to take a CPR class and/or brush up on first aid in case of a seizure-related fall or other injury.

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