Epilepsy Resources

Seizure Types

There are two main types of seizures. One type (generalized) involves the whole brain. It’s like a thunderstorm in the brain, and the person’s entire body is affected. Symptoms may include convulsions, staring, muscle spasms, and falls.

The other type of seizure (focal) involves only part of the brain, so only the part of the body controlled by that part of the brain is affected. Focal seizures used to be referred to as partial seizures.

Click below to learn more about the main types of seizures.

Generalized Absence Seizures

Generalized absence seizures were formerly known as petit mal seizures. These seizures involve a brief lapse of awareness—short periods of blanking out or staring. Symptoms may also include chewing or blinking motions. Generalized absence seizures usually last one to 10 seconds and may occur many times a day. They can be confused with daydreaming, lack of attention, and attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were formerly known as grand mal seizures. These types of seizures usually last one to three minutes. Initially, the person loses consciousness and falls to the ground. During the tonic phase, the muscles are stiffening and the body becomes very rigid. As the diaphragm contracts, the person may produce a hoarse cry as extra air is being pushed out. Their eyes may roll up or turn to the side. A person may bite his or her tongue. Then the clonic phase begins with convulsions or rhythmic jerking. Once the convulsions subside, the person enters the post-ical phase (or post-seizure phase). This phase usually involves confusion, headache, tiredness, soreness, and speech difficulty. Some people need several hours of rest. Other people may recover much quicker.

Focal Aware Seizures

Focal aware seizures were formerly called simple partial seizures. During these types of seizures, full awareness is maintained. Typical symptoms may include rhythmic movements or isolated twitching, ringing in the ears, odd smells or tastes, upset stomach, skin crawling, sweating, emotional changes, and visual hallucinations or distortions of how the person views his or her environment. Focal aware seizures usually last less than one minute.

Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures

Focal impaired awareness seizures were formerly known as complex partial seizures. During these types of seizures, awareness is impaired and the person is unable to respond. Focal impaired awareness seizures often begin with a blank dazed stare. Common symptoms include automatic behaviors, including hand wringing, picking at clothing, lip smacking, and wandering/aimlessly walking. Some people report being unable to speak—they’re aware of what they wished to say but weren’t able to express it. These types of seizures usually last one to three minutes and are often followed by tiredness, headache, and nausea. During focal impaired awareness seizures, a person may become combative if restrained, so these seizures may be confused with drunkenness, drug abuse, or aggressive behavior.