Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition affecting up to 1-2% of the population and is the second most common neurological disorder after stroke.  Although epilepsy is more likely to occur in young children, or people over the age of 65 years, it is not confined to any age group, sex, or race and can be diagnosed at any age or occur at any time and is still not well understood.

Given sufficient circumstances, any person will have a seizure. The amount of stimulation required to cause a seizure is called the seizure threshold. Many people with epilepsy are considered to have a low seizure threshold. The discharges stimulate many of the neurons to send nerve impulses over their conduction pathways. As a result, the person having the attack may contract skeletal muscles involuntarily and certain portions such as the Reticular Activating System (RAS), may shut down during the attack.

Not all epilepsy syndromes are lifelong and some forms are confined to particular stages of childhood.
While greater than 70% of people become seizure free taking medication, an important step in managing epilepsy is gaining an understanding about the condition. That is, epilepsy should not be understood as a single disorder, but rather as syndromic with vastly divergent symptoms but all involving episodic abnormal electrical activity in the brain.  It is therefore valuable for people with epilepsy, their family, friends and carers to understand the many aspects of this disorder to improve their chances in obtaining seizure control.

However, most people are unaware of recent technological advancements like QEEG (quantitative electroencephalograph) and Neurofeedback training that assists with the management of epilepsy and seizure activity which is unable to be satisfactorily controlled with medication.

Neurofeedback or EEG Biofeedback reduces seizure activity by training people to produce a sensorimotor rhythm or SMR brainwave pattern in the range of 12-15 Hz. Achieving this range allows people to maintain the
SMR brainwave pattern for longer periods of time, which in turn teaches the cortex to maintain stability thus raising the seizure threshold. This is an exciting development as it finally gives people the option of a drug free alternative.

At Learning Discoveries we offer holistic strategies like: diet, nutrition and Neurofeedback to assist with decreasing the frequency of seizures as well as improving the control of seizure activity.

For more information about how QEEG and Neurofeedback Training can help people with Epilepsy or to make an appointment please send an email or contact us on (02) 9637 9998 during business hours.

Papers by Rosemary
Alternative and Complimentary Strategies for Epilepsy

Further Reading Suggestions
Side effects of Anti-Convulsant Medications

Latest International Research
International Society for Neurofeedback and Research – Epilepsy

Links
Epilepsy Action of Australia
Epilepsy Research Centre
Epilepsy Society of Australia
Epilepsy Queensland Inc.
Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
Children’s Neurobiological Solutions, Santa Barbara, California, USA