How to Choose a Protective Helmet for Seizures

When seizures cause sudden drops or falls that may result in head injury, a protective helmet helps prevent injury. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed if your doctor recommends a protective helmet for your child’s seizures. Understanding your options and knowing what to look for can help you make the best choice for your child's safety and comfort.

Learn about types of injuries that may occur during a seizure and how to prevent them.

Understanding Your Child’s Needs

For the best protection and comfort, start by carefully observing your child's seizure patterns. If your child tends to fall forward during seizures, you'll need a helmet with a face guard, face bar, or visor to protect the facial area. For children who fall backward, adequate protection for the back of the head is essential.  

Regardless of fall direction, the helmet must have an adjustable chinstrap that stays snug but comfortable. Even the best protective helmet becomes ineffective if it doesn't remain securely positioned during a fall.

What Makes a Good Protective Helmet

An effective seizure helmet should absorb impact energy while providing comprehensive head coverage. The helmet needs to stay firmly in place during sudden movements or falls, which requires proper fitting and secure strapping systems. Comfort is equally important since many children need to wear their helmets for extended periods throughout the day.

Helmets to Avoid

While you might consider common sports helmets, most are not suitable for seizure protection. Bicycle helmets don’t offer enough coverage for the back and sides of the head or facial protection for forward falls. They may also shift position if not properly adjusted and can crack with repeated impacts.  

Boxing helmets offer comfort but no meaningful protection and poor ventilation. Football helmets provide better protection but are too bulky and uncomfortable for daily wear. Baseball batting helmets are loose-fitting and typically lack chinstraps, making them inadequate for seizure protection.

Current Doctor-Approved Options

Hockey Helmets

Traditional hockey helmets remain one of the best readily available options. They offer:

• Maximum protection
• Various colors
• Fit all age groups except infants

They can be purchased and properly fitted at most sporting goods stores. Their hard-shell construction and full coverage make them excellent for seizure protection. However, they may be less comfortable for extended daily wear compared to medical-grade soft helmets.

Other Helmets  

Today's medical helmet market offers several excellent choices specifically designed for people with epilepsy and other medical conditions, including very small children. They may come in a wide variety of styles that can be customized for individuals with seizures, and styles or colors that may be more appealing. Custom-made infant-sized helmets sometimes can be ordered either through the rehabilitation department of a hospital or through the manufacturer.

Helmets available on the market include:

• Guardian Helmets
• Ribcap Protective Helmets
• Plum’s® Helmets
• Head Protex Soft Epilepsy Helmets

*The Epilepsy Foundation does not endorse any helmets. Please follow your healthcare team’s recommendations on which helmet is right for you or your loved one.

Learn about additional ways to help keep your child safe.

Key Features to Look For

A protective helmet should have these essential features:

• Energy absorption- Helmets specifically made to absorb and dissipate impact energy
• Comprehensive coverage- Protection should cover vulnerable areas based on your child's seizure pattern
• Secure fit- An adjustable chinstrap and sizing system to keep the helmet properly positioned
• Comfort for extended wear- Lightweight materials, ventilation, and soft padding
• Durability- Construction that withstands repeated impacts without compromising protection
• Easy maintenance- Many quality helmets can be machine washed and dried
• Size and style options- Various colors and patterns to help your child feel comfortable wearing their helmet

Where to Find the Right Helmet

Helmets to protect your child from falls due to seizures are available at:

• Medical supply companies
• Certain hospital departments
• Sporting goods stores (for hockey helmets)
• Online stores

Update your child's seizure action plan to include seizure symptoms. This will help others know what to expect if a seizure occurs.

Follow Healthcare Team Recommendations

Talk to your child’s healthcare team when deciding what type of helmet is best. The goal is to find a balance between safety, comfort, and your child's willingness to wear the helmet regularly. With today's improved designs and materials, protective helmets can offer excellent protection while allowing your child to participate fully in daily activities with greater confidence and security.