What clues should make one suspect that unexplained symptoms might be due to a seizure disorder?

Any of the above-mentioned symptoms or behaviors, particularly if they are stereotyped (meaning that they are virtually the same every time that they occur). For example:

-Abnormal tastes, smells or sensations that are always identical whenever experienced.

-Characteristic facial expressions--usually with a blank stare, fumbling with the hands,chewing, licking of the lips or other automatic behaviors that always look just about the same.

-Movements that always involve the same side of the body. For example:

-Eyes or head always turn to the same side, or face always draws to the same side.

-Jerking always begins in the same arm or leg.

-Staring spells that involve any of the following:

-Pupils get large, or eyes open widely (the opposite of what would expect in a sleepy individual).

-Face gets pale.

-No response to name being called.

-Failure to blink if a hand is waved in front of the person's face.

-Feelings of abnormal familiarity (deja vu) or unfamiliarity (jamais vu), if unusually frequent or intense.

-Symptoms that are extremely difficult to put into words.

-Confusion or sleepiness after the symptoms occur.

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Who can develop a seizure disorder?

-Persons of all ages: regardless of their sex, race, intelligence, etc.

-SEIZURES ARE AMONG THE COMMONEST DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN. Failure to consider them as possibilities when evaluating people with sleep problems would be unrealistic--and most unfair to the patient, since they are usually very treatable.

-Many different causes can account for the development of seizure disorders. In some cases, they "run in families". They can be caused by lack of oxygen or low blood sugar levels in sleep, other metabolic problems, head injuries, other structural problems in the brain, and by a wide variety of other factors. Frequently, no cause can be identified.

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