Seizure Safe Schools

1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime. That means seizures are common, and one day you might need to help someone during or after a seizure.

Talk About It for Kids!

Many parents, family and caregivers have similar concerns with the care they give to people with epilepsy. When the person you care for is a child, these concerns become more difficult and more important to address.

In this video, Greg Grunberg interviews families about how they overcame challenges when epilepsy is part of their lives.

Caring for a Child with Epilepsy

470,000 children in the United States have epilepsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 336,000 kids have at least one seizure annually. Whether you’re the parent or the caretaker of a child with epilepsy, you’ll have many questions and concerns.

Epilepsy affects people at different ages and in different ways. For some, it will be easily controlled with medication and outgrown after a few years. For others, it may be a lifelong challenge affecting many areas of life. We’ll help you find information about seizures and epilepsy in youth of all ages, from newborns to the teenage years. Some information is unique to specific ages, while others are common for all children with epilepsy.

Epilepsy in Kids

About 470,000 American children under the age of 17 have active epilepsy. Recognizing and treating epilepsy early is key. Aside from the physical impact, children with epilepsy face social challenges that can hurt self-esteem.

Talking to Kids About Epilepsy

Children need answers. If epilepsy or another health problem affects your child, a family member or friend should give the facts and let your child ask questions. The most important message for any child is that people with epilepsy are just like everyone else.

Newborns and Infants with Epilepsy

Seizures in newborns are different from seizures that occur in older children and adults. In fact, other perfectly normal responses in babies can be mistaken for a seizure. It’s important to receive a proper diagnosis from your newborn’s doctor.

Teens with Epilepsy

Caring for teens with epilepsy requires special patience and understanding. Epilepsy can aggravate or create problems of low self-esteem, dependency, mood swings, or behavior. It can also raise questions about driving, drugs and alcohol, employment, and relationships.

College and Careers

Choosing a college and career is an exciting time in your life. While you may have concerns, having epilepsy shouldn’t keep you from enjoying either of these experiences.

Caregivers Play Many Roles

The role of a parent of a child with epilepsy is a big one. We can help you find the information, support, and resources you need as you help your child through their journey.

https://www.epilepsy.com/parents-and-caregivers

https://www.epilepsy.com/tools-resources

https://www.epilepsy.com/local/new-jersey