Seven facts about complex partial seizures
Today’s guest article is contributed by Meredith Walker, who writes about the masters in public health. She welcomes your feedback at “MeredithWalker1983 at gmail.com” Enjoy the article and please make her feel welcome!
Complex partial seizures are epileptic seizures that affect one particular region of the brain. These seizures do not usually cause a tonic seizure more commonly associated with epilepsy, but instead affect thoughts and behavior.
Sufferers may go undiagnosed or misunderstood as this type of seizure is often not recognized as a physical disability and thought, instead, to be a mental disorder. Even when diagnosed, those with complex partial seizures may feel isolated as this invisible disability may …
Childhood epilepsy and Social Security disability benefits
How does Social Security look at children’s disability cases based on epilepsy or other seizure disorders?
Social Security first considers the Listing of Impairments. The Listings are a set of descriptions of medical conditions which can be disabling. The Listings tell you the what kind medical evidence you need and the medical findings to prove that the condition is disabling. While the Listings are not the only way to be found disabled, they are very important in children’s disability cases.
For seizure disorders, there are two critical Listings.
111.02 Major motor seizure disorder
111.03 Nonconvulsive epilepsy
Questions the Judge may ask in epilepsy or seizure case
Disability cases based on seizure disorders are a very special kind of disability case.
If your case goes in front of an Administrative Law Judge, you can expect to be asked these questions:
How often do you have seizures?
What happens during a seizure?
How do you feel after a seizure?
What do you have to do after a seizure (lie down, sleep etc)? And for how long?
Are you treating with a doctor?
Are you taking your medications as prescribed? How long have you been taking your medications?
While seizure disorders (epilepsy, partial complex seizures, etc.) are often disabling, simply having a seizure disorder is not enough to be found disabled. In many cases, …
How to help someone during a seizure?
If you have a family member, or a friend, with epilepsy or another seizure disorder, it can be scary and you may not know what to do when a seizure happens.
Scott Mehle, executive director of Tallahassee’s Epilepsy Association of the Big Bend, recently discussed this:
“They should just know what to do and not do when someone happens to have a seizure in public. Keeping the seizing person safe from injury is primary. Don’t restrain them. Don’t insert anything into their mouths . . . just gently turn them on their sides. Remove furniture or objects that are sharp or hard and cushion their heads,” he …
