After you have a seizure, a specialist doctor will do tests to find the cause.
Having a seizure does not always mean you have epilepsy.
Tests to diagnose epilepsy
The doctor will ask about what happened before, during and after the seizure. If someone such as a family member or friend saw the seizure, ask them to come to your appointment.
Tests you might have include:
- an electroencephalogram (EEG) to check electrical activity in your brain
- an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart
- brain scans such as an MRI scan or CT scan
- blood tests
- genetic testing
Your doctor may diagnose epilepsy if you had more than 1 seizure or have a risk of more seizures.
Types of epileptic seizure
There are different types of epileptic seizure. They can affect people differently.
You may have 1 or more type of seizure. Your specialist will assess your symptoms and tests results to tell you which type you have.
The main types of epileptic seizure are:
- tonic clonic seizures - where you become unconscious and may fall, your muscles get stiff and your body jerks and shakes
- tonic seizures - your muscles suddenly get stiff and you may fall, then recover quickly
- atonic seizures - your muscles suddenly go floppy and you may fall, then recover quickly
- absence seizures - you briefly lose awareness of what's going on around you
- focal seizures - you have unusual feelings, sensations or movements, or you may lose awareness and memory of your surroundings
- myoclonic seizures - your muscles briefly jerk while you are awake