Absence Seizures - person is not aware of their environment/surroundings for a short period of time
Aura - person feels a strange sense come over them; sometimes in smell, hearing and vision prior to a seizure
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) - used for computer picture taking purposes from different viewpoints
Complex Partial Seizure - a seizure which only affects part of the brain and can alter consciousness
Electroencephalogram (EEG) - test which determines if a person has epilepsy by attaching electrodes/leads (wires) to the outside of the head and monitored sometimes by video measuring brain signals.
Generalized Seizure - The entire brain is affected
Hallucination - false and distorted perception of objects or events with a compelling sense of their reality
Ketogenic Diet - a special diet used predominately in children to help control seizures consisting of high fats and low carbohydrates.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - allows for precise scans of the patients brain; breaking images down in "slices"
Neurological - relating to the nerves and nervous system
Partial Seizure - affects part of the brain and consciousness may not appear to be altered
Photosensitivity - flashing lights, high tech video games, flickering lights (subways) may induce seizure activity for some patients
Seizure - sudden abnormal brain activity; brain cannot process messages properly and a person may lose consciousness, have a staring episode, fall to the ground and show severe body tremors.
Seizure Dogs - dogs which may or may not have formal training that can alert patients they may soon be having a seizure.
Side Effects - usually occur from a drug prescribed; typically a secondary effect; undesirable reaction to drug or therapy which may sometimes be harmful.
Simple Partial Seizure - person remains alert to seizure as only part of the brain is affected
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy - widely known type of epilepsy consisting of complex partial seizures
Tonic Clonic Seizure - also known as grand mal; a person will experience muscle "jerks", fall to the floor and lose consciousness/awareness; may take time to awaken after episode
Vagal Nerve Stimulation - modern technology allows a VNS device through a nerve in the neck to send a signal of electricity to the brain in hope to ward off a seizure
