Does Epilepsy Cause Symptoms Other Than Seizures?

Seizures are a visible symptom of epilepsy but aren’t the only symptom. Seizures can interrupt function in different parts of your brain, leading to memory problems, trouble thinking, and difficulty with organizing, planning, and decision-making — also called your executive function. 

If your child has had a seizure, you want to know if they have epilepsy and what the next steps will be. Dr. Charles Niesen and our team at AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, provide comprehensive testing to arrive at a diagnosis for your child’s symptoms. 

If your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, we’re here to provide compassionate treatment. Following are some of the complications of epilepsy we treat and help you and your child manage. 

Memory issues

Your child may stop in the middle of a sentence because they can’t recall the word for a particular object they’re talking about. The hippocampus stores information and retrieves it when necessary. It can be compared to a librarian who is familiar with where books are in the library and can go straight to the correct section. 

Seizures affect the hippocampus; as a result, it may not function normally all the time. Your child’s brain sometimes can’t locate the right word when it’s needed. 

As your child grows, you can explain to them the different parts of their brain and what those parts do so your child understands why they sometimes can’t remember the name of someone or something. 

If your child has issues affecting language and memory, they can receive special help at school through an individualized education plan (IEP). Your child’s therapist and teachers work with them on memory aids to help them succeed. 

Language issues

Language ability is focused on the left side of the brain. Children who have seizures that start on the right side of their brain may not have language issues. If your child’s seizures are on the left side, they may experience trouble recalling words when they’re speaking. 

Scientists have recently found that different categories of words are stored in different places in the brain. For instance, the names of tools are stored in the back of the temporal lobe, whereas the names of family members are stored at the front. 

Seizures can harm the part of the brain where words are stored. They can also damage the brain signals that transport words to active memory. For example, your child may not be able to call the name of a ruler or pencil even when they see it. 

Both memory and language issues are intertwined, as epilepsy can affect long-term storage and retrieval mechanisms in the brain. 

Executive function issues

Your child’s frontal lobe is the command center for their executive functioning. Executive function enables your child to make good decisions and plan, organize, and carry out tasks efficiently. 

If seizures affect your child’s frontal lobe, their executive functioning may be weaker than normal. Organizing and carrying out tasks may become more difficult. It may be harder for your loved one to pay attention. 

The frontal lobe also controls impulses. Your child may blurt out answers in class without raising their hand. They may say something unkind, even though it’s true. 

All of these issues can be ameliorated with neurological treatment, therapy, and guided behavior by teachers, parents, and other trusted adults. 

Call our office at AMS Neurology or book an appointment online today. We provide expert treatment for children with epilepsy so your child can thrive in their school, social, and home environment.