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Type of Seizure and affects on education
Mon, 01/22/2007 - 20:35Topic: Parents & Caregivers
I am new here. I have 2 daughters each diagnosed with a seizure disorder. My 8 year old was diagnosed when she was 2 1/2. She did have speech and language disabilities but now is excelling in school. She took Topamax the first couple years and has now taken Lamictal since. My 13 year old was diagnosed about 2 years ago. She has learning disabilities that are not improving. She has been on Lamictal since the beginning. The Lamictal is apparently effective, from the results of their EEG. Our neurologist has told me my 8 year old has absence seizures, staring off. We have never seen one, but the Dr. says they only last a few seconds. My problem is she told me my 13 year old's seizures are the same only they are internal. They do not cause her to stare off. I can sort of understand that she can continue to function with her brain seizing, but I can't find any info anywhere that discusses this type of seizure. I have a meeting with her teacher's to discuss her IEP and I can't explain it well to them. They don't understand at all. She does not do well in most of her classes. She doesn't understand when they explain it in class. When I help her at home, I have to repeat and repeat before she understands. Does this sound familiar to anyone and does anyone have any advice? I want to be able to explain to her teacher's what is going on in her head and how it affects her learning. We need to rewrite her goals as her current goals have been the same for 3 years and she hasn't mastered a single one. I'm just not sure what goals to come up with and if the epilepsy is the main cause of her learning disability or if it actually has nothing to do with it.
Comments
Re: Type of Seizure and affects on education
Submitted by littlebug on Tue, 2007-01-23 - 16:06
my daughter has absence seizures along with a few others.it took 4yrs for her to learn her abc's.anything that was apattern or sequences was very hard for her and required me to repeat things several times.it has been very fustrating.she is very smart but her memory was so bad.it wasnt until recently that we learned that her seizure meds wre part of her problem.anywhere from 1/2hr to 4hrs after she takes it can affect her ability to retain information.now we give it to her 1 1/2hrs before school and what a big differnce it has made.that and her doctor recommend she take a dance class to help with memory.we finally did it and I cant believe what a difference it has made.was your daughter iq tested?they found on my daughter that she has a problem with visual processing.other than that like i said she is very smart.good luck
Re: Type of Seizure and affects on education
Submitted by MindyRoy on Wed, 2007-01-24 - 12:05
Hi!
My 12y daughter has learning problems also. She was dx in Aug with E. She had her IEP in 05. So this was before we knew about E. I think her learning problem is part of E. She is in 5th grade. I held her back in 2nd grade, because she wasn't getting it. She is still having problems. In Indiana they have I-step tests that shows what the child is learning, and she has failed her reading every year since 3rd grade.
She had a VEEG in Dec that showed she was at high risk for seizures. And in Feb she is having neurological testing. This test will measure her brain function, memory, and how she does daily activities. Maybe this is something you should check into. I just mentioned to the doctor that she is having problems in school.
I have also asked the school for an aid. This way she will have someone with her though out the day and help her understand want is going on in the class room. She does okay if the teacher is helping her, but the teacher has other students. Last week Shelbie started having seizures on a daily basis for 5 days. The school has been wonderful. But I am worried that she is just loosing her ablitiy to learn. I think the aid will be good help for her.
I hope this helps.
Mindy
Re: Type of Seizure and affects on education
Submitted by Brian Hen on Mon, 2007-01-22 - 21:21
Dear palaab I take Lamintal for Epilepsy, valium for stress and anxiety. My memory bad, concentration varies, slow to have conversation, I now exercise and walking good improvement and confidence. I realize your situation. Best of luck Brian.