|
|
A simple partial seizure affects only a small part of the brain when it occurs, causing a particular symptom or group of symptoms. However, simple partial seizures do not affect awareness or consciousness.
Sometimes doctors or persons with epilepsy call simple partial seizures “auras”. They can be remarkably different from person to person, depending on the part of the brain where they begin. The one thing they all have in common is that the person remains alert and can remember what happens. Doctors often divide simple partial seizures into categories depending on the type of symptoms the person experiences. Here are a few of the more common types of simple partial seizures:
These cause a change in muscle activity. For example, a person may have abnormal movements such as jerking of a finger or stiffening of part of the body. These movements may spread, either staying on one side of the body (opposite the affected area of the brain) or extending to both sides. Other examples are weakness, which can even affect speech, and coordinated actions such as laughter or automatic hand movements. The person may or may not be aware of these movements.
These cause changes in any one of the senses. People with sensory seizures may smell or taste things that aren't there; hear clicking, ringing, or a person's voice when there is no actual sound; or feel a sensation of "pins and needles" or numbness. Seizures may even be painful for some patients. They may feel as if they are floating or spinning in space. They may have visual hallucinations, seeing things that aren't there (a spot of light, a scene with people). They also may experience illusions—distortions of true sensations. For instance, they may believe that a parked car is moving farther away, or that a person's voice is muffled when it's actually clear.
These cause changes in the part of the nervous system that automatically controls bodily functions. These common seizures may include strange or unpleasant sensations in the stomach, chest, or head; changes in the heart rate or breathing; sweating; or goose bumps.
These seizures change how people think, feel, or experience things. They may have problems with memory, garbled speech, an inability to find the right word, or trouble understanding spoken or written language. They may suddenly feel emotions like fear, depression, or happiness with no outside reason. Some may feel as though they are outside their body or may have feelings of déja vu ("I've been through this before") or jamais vu ("This is new to me"— even though the setting is really familiar).
For more information:
Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07
Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.
No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple partial seizures with bad smells at the end of the seizure | Oct 8, 2009 | |
| yorkielover007 | ||
| Epilepsy and Food | Aug 24, 2009 | |
| Adrilu | ||
| My Husband Can't see/feel his Aura's... | Oct 29, 2009 | |
| hubbys_auras | ||
| lamictal | Oct 25, 2009 | |
| mother of one | ||
| Possible epilepsy symptoms? Simple partial seizure? | Aug 13, 2009 | |
| jeliot06 | ||
| Is this Aura??? | Oct 28, 2009 | |
| Shadrak | ||
| HELP | Aug 20, 2009 | |
| jubatum | ||
| Is This a Seizure | Oct 28, 2009 | |
| cocktaildizeaz | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Keppra | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| clfcsparrow | ||
| Anyone experience memory loss? | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| tiff_25 | ||
| Self sleep-study help | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| pellykate | ||
| 2 year old hates taking med - Ideas?? | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| Blaine | ||
| Ecstatic Seizures | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| victoria.w | ||
| Seizures During Sleep | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| Morning Sunshine | ||
| Seizures while sleeping~ | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| ache | ||
| Emfit Movement Monitor | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| clfcsparrow | ||
| Ketogenic diet and epilepsy cure | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| sheltiegal | ||
| Seizure Meds & Work? | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| GodivaGirl | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,444 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 18,978 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 18,914 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 15,855 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| Epilepsy and marijuana | 15,659 | |
| cjad234 | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 13,151 | |
| George R | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 13,061 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 11,491 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 10,092 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 9,479 | |
| Maggie | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| UNBELIEVABLE HAPPINESS!!!! | Aug 10, 2009 | |
| 3Hours2Live | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| I need some HELP! PLEASE READ | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| Senior_10 | ||
| Meds | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| cait888 | ||
| Jillian's Progress | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| jillsmom | ||
| My memory, mental function's been badly affected. Is it the medication, or the fits? | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| Gubs | ||
| Any ideas? | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| Gubs | ||
| confessions of a blogaholic | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| DaniellaMT | ||
| we have a question | Mar 20, 2010 | |
| KimandLannie | ||
| Tegretol & Lamictal & Depo | Mar 20, 2010 | |
| CCrawford | ||
| Car Crash - But Only Figuratively | Mar 19, 2010 | |
| stephsobota | ||
| How in the world can I.... | Mar 19, 2010 | |
| R_Vandercook | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts | 8,008 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| my partial complex seizures | 3,878 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,662 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,475 | |
| JudiS | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,074 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Feeling Sick | 2,934 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 2,924 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,819 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,758 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,603 | |
| teft | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Absence Seizures in Kids | Mar 17, 2010 | |
| zmommy | ||
| Baytown Texas Epilepsy Support Group | Mar 16, 2010 | |
| cmender1984 | ||
| Mothers With Epilepsy | Mar 16, 2010 | |
| cmender1984 | ||
| Seizures: First Diagnosis Infantile Spasms, Second Diagnosis: Atonic Drop Seizures | Mar 11, 2010 | |
| trey2007 | ||
| DestinyMaker | Mar 10, 2010 | |
| destinymaker | ||
| you are not alone my friend. | Mar 1, 2010 | |
| donnia | ||
| Panayiotopoulos Syndrome | Mar 1, 2010 | |
| valentina | ||
| i have Epilepsy and A career... looking to talk to others of te same | Feb 25, 2010 | |
| krayb450 | ||
| College Students Living and Learning with Epilepsy | Feb 22, 2010 | |
| risingagain13 | ||
| Just Been Diagnosed Of Having Epilepsy? | Feb 19, 2010 | |
| norrmbeam | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing like the past haunting me again | Aug 18, 2009 | |
| tx_shane | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Help me | Mar 21, 2010 | |
| Senior_10 | ||
| My Son Has Seizures | Mar 20, 2010 | |
| KimandLannie | ||
| Nathan | Mar 20, 2010 | |
| shamm | ||
| Choosing Your Perfect Dishwasher | Mar 20, 2010 | |
| linhongzi | ||
| MBT shoes and foot health of any contact | Mar 19, 2010 | |
| zxq2012 | ||
| I am a worried Morther | Mar 18, 2010 | |
| spades | ||
| Army Gifts Lift Our Soldiers’ Spirits | Mar 18, 2010 | |
| bobo0 | ||
| Never Grew Out of It! | Mar 17, 2010 | |
| fhsu_recruiter | ||
| Sophies Story- Infantile Spasms | Mar 17, 2010 | |
| sophiesmummy | ||
| MIGUEL'S STORY | Mar 15, 2010 | |
| miguelitos mom | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,300 | |
| kroiz | ||
| (TLE) seizures, insurance company denies me for health care due to epilepsy | 891 | |
| wenko | ||
| my story | 473 | |
| snoby | ||
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 449 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 428 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 406 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 382 | |
| javaman | ||
| Temporal Lobe Epilepsy | 354 | |
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 343 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Life......... | 337 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| View all Stories | ||
