Seizures are defined as sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain.
They can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and levels of consciousness.
The nature of a seizure depends on the part of the brain where the disturbance originates and how far it spreads.
A seizure refers to a singular event, whereas epilepsy is a neurological disorder marked by the occurrence of two or more unprovoked seizures.
For VA rating purposes, epilepsy and seizures are both rated under the same general rating formula for epileptic seizures.
Seizures are primarily categorized into two main groups:
Focal Onset Aware Seizures (simple partial seizures): During these seizures, the veteran remains conscious and aware of their surroundings, but they might experience changes in emotion, sensory perception, or motor skills.
Focal Onset Impaired Awareness Seizures (complex partial seizures): These involve a change or loss of consciousness or awareness. People may seem dazed and not respond normally to their environment or perform repetitive movements.
Absence Seizures (Petit Mal): Typically occurring in children, these involve brief, sudden lapses in attention. The person might stare into space or have subtle body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking.
Tonic-Clonic Seizures (Grand Mal): These are what most people think of when they hear “seizure.” They cause a loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and sometimes loss of bladder control or biting the tongue.
Tonic Seizures: These involve stiffening of muscles, generally those in the back, legs, and arms.
Clonic Seizures: Characterized by repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements, often affecting the neck, face, and arms.
Myoclonic Seizures: These usually appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches of the arms and legs.
Atonic Seizures (Drop Seizures): Muscle tone is lost for a few seconds to a minute, which may cause a sudden collapse or dropping down.