Partial seizures can often be very subtle or peculiar, and may go unnoticed or be confused with other events. The seizure starts in one area of the brain and may spread to other regions.
There are two specific types of partial seizures, namely:
- complex partial (change in awareness and behaviour)
- simple partial (no loss of awareness)
Symptoms and characteristics:
Complex partial seizures
During complex partial seizures, consciousness or awareness is altered producing a vague, confused or dreamlike appearance. The person may respond, but often inappropriately. They may also display unusual, random or repetitive behavior, such as chewing, fidgeting, taking off clothes, walking around or mumbling.
After the seizure, there is often a period of confusion and little, if any, memory of the event. These seizures generally last between 30 seconds to 3 minutes.
Simple partial seizures
Simple partial seizures are often termed an 'aura' or warning by the person experiencing them as they can precede a more severe complex partial or tonic-clonic seizure. There is no loss of awareness or consciousness, with seizures usually lasting less than a minute.
Common symptoms of partial seizures include:
- autonomic changes such as blushing, pallor, increased heart rate and nausea
- motor changes such as jerking of a limb or twitching of the face
- psychological symptoms including deja'vu and hallucinations (visual, sound, taste or smell)
- sensory symptoms such as numbness, tingling or burning sensation in a region of the body.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people experiencing seizures to manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, such as:
- drive work vehicles only if medically certified to do so
- if having difficulty with memory, use memory aids such as job task boards, lists, task cards, computer prompts or alarms such as watches or timers
- build in time for breaks at work to avoid fatigue which can trigger seizures
- if needing to travel interstate or overseas, ensure medical documentation of condition, treatment requirements and medications (if used) are taken.
For people with epilepsy that is uncontrolled, the following may also be required:
- removing sharp corners and adding padding to the edges of workstations along with the addition of anti-fatigue matting or carpet to hard floors to reduce risk of injury in the event of a seizure
- avoid the use of or working around unguarded machinery or tools which could cause injury in the event of a seizure
- avoid working from heights such as on scaffolding or ladders, around bodies of water or the use of firearms to reduce risk of injury in the event of a seizure.
(Epilepsy Action Australia (no date specified); Epilepsy Action Australia 2001-2008; Epilepsy Action Australia 2006; World Health Organisation 2001)
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work-related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References:
Epilepsy Action Australia 2001-2008, Lifestyle Issues –Employment, Epilepsy Action, Sydney, viewed 28 November 2008, http://www.epilepsy.org.au/employment.asp
Epilepsy Action Australia 2001-2008, Lifestyle Issues –Travel, Epilepsy Action, Sydney, viewed 28 November 2008, http://www.epilepsy.org.au/travel.asp
Epilepsy Action Australia 2001-2008, Lifestyle Issues –Memory, Epilepsy Action, Sydney, viewed 28 November 2008, http://www.epilepsy.org.au/memory.asp
Epilepsy Action Australia (no date specified), Lifestyle Issues – Driving, Epilepsy Action, Sydney, viewed 28 November 2008, http://www.epilepsy.org.au/driving.asp
Epilepsy Action Australia 2006, Epilepsy explained, Epilepsy Action, Sydney, viewed 21 February 2007, http://www.epilepsy.org.au/epilepsy_explained2.asp#3
Epilepsy Action Australia 2006, Understanding epilepsy, Epilepsy Action, Sydney, viewed 21 February 2007, http://www.epilepsy.org.au/understanding_epilepsy.asp
World Health Organisation 2001, Epilepsy: aetiogy, epidemiology and prognosis, World Health Organisation, Geneva, viewed 21 February 2007, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs165/en/