Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological condition, which affects the nervous system. Epilepsy is also known as a seizure disorder. It is only when there is a tendency to have recurrent seizures, that is, two or more that are not caused by some known condition like alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar, that epilepsy is diagnosed.

A seizure is usually defined as a sudden alteration of behaviour due to a temporary change in the electrical functioning of the brain, in particular the outside rim of the brain called the cortex. Seizures are not a disease in themselves. Instead, they are a symptom of many different disorders that can affect the brain. Some seizures can hardly be noticed, while others have an enormous impact on functioning.

Epilepsy is often a result of an underlying brain disease. Any type of brain disease can cause epilepsy, but not all people with the same brain disease will have epilepsy. There are also many for whom the cause of their epilepsy cannot, as yet, be identified.

Statistics

One to two per cent of people in the general population will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. Epilepsy rates increase after age 55-60, as people develop diseases such as brain tumors, or Alzheimer's disease.

Epilepsy is more than three times as common as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy (Epilepsy Action 2006).

Workplace solutions and adjustments

There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:

• attention and memory
• dealing with stress and psychological demands
• energy and drive

References

Epilepsy.com 2007, All About Epilepsy & Seizures, Epilepsy Therapy Development Project, Washington, viewed 21 February 2007, <http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/main_epilepsy.html >.

Epilepsy Action 2006, Epilepsy explained, Epilepsy Association, Sydney, viewed 21 February 2007, <http://www.epilepsy.org.au/epilepsy_explained2.asp#3>.

Epilepsy Action 2006, Understanding epilepsy, Epilepsy Association, Sydney, viewed 21 February 2007, <http://www.epilepsy.org.au/understanding_epilepsy.asp>.

Links to specific types of epilepsy