Epilepsy is a condition that affects how the brain sends signals. It can cause seizures, which are temporary changes in movement, awareness, or behavior. Many children with epilepsy live full, active lives, especially with the right care and support.
There are many different types of seizures. They are generally grouped into two main categories: Generalized Seizures and Focal Seizures.
Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain.
After this type of seizure, it is common for a child to feel tired, confused, or need time to rest.
Focal seizures begin in one area of the brain. They may stay in that area or spread.
Most seizures last less than a few minutes.
Seizures can look different in every child. Some common signs include:
After a seizure, a child may feel tired, confused, emotional, or have difficulty speaking for a short time. This recovery period is normal.
If you have concerns about possible seizures, our team is here to help. We provide thoughtful evaluation and individualized care to help children stay safe, healthy, and active.
Our Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery team has extensive experience caring for children with seizures and epilepsy. We take time to carefully review your child’s medical history, listen to your concerns, and create a personalized care plan.
Depending on your child’s needs, evaluation may include:
If you are concerned your child may be having seizures — even mild or brief episodes — please call our office to schedule an evaluation. Early assessment helps us provide the right guidance and reassurance.
Your child’s neurologist will determine which tests are needed based on the clinical situation. The most common tests include an EEG and sometimes an MRI.
An EEG is a safe and painless test that records brain wave activity using small stickers placed on the scalp. There are no needles involved, and the test does not send electricity into the brain.
To prepare:
During the test, your child may be asked to:
These steps help us gather important information about seizure type. Bringing a favorite toy, blanket, or book can help your child feel more comfortable.
An MRI is a detailed imaging study that helps us look at the brain’s structure. The test is not painful, but the machine makes loud tapping or beeping sounds.
Some children may need sedation to help them stay still. If so, we will provide clear instructions about food and drink beforehand.
Talking to your child calmly and positively about the test can reduce anxiety. Planning a small reward afterward — such as a favorite activity — can also be helpful.
Children can have sudden episodes that look concerning but are not epilepsy. Many of these are common and part of normal development.
Examples include:
Because some of these events can resemble seizures, careful evaluation is important. Home videos of episodes are often very helpful for diagnosis.
When needed, video-EEG monitoring can help clearly determine whether episodes are epileptic or non-epileptic.
Certain types of epilepsy occur at specific ages. Identifying patterns helps us guide treatment effectively.
Early recognition and treatment support healthy development and learning.
If you have concerns about unusual spells, developmental changes, or possible seizures, our team is here to provide thoughtful evaluation and compassionate care.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a safe, completely painless test that helps us understand how your child’s brain is working.
Small stickers called electrodes are gently placed on the scalp by one of our experienced EEG technologists. These electrodes do not send electricity into the brain — they simply record the brain’s natural activity, which is always present, even during sleep.
The EEG displays this activity as wave patterns on a computer screen. In some cases, we also use video EEG so we can see how brain activity relates to movements or symptoms during the study.
An EEG helps doctors look at several important features of brain activity:
An EEG is an important part of evaluating seizures and epilepsy, along with medical history and other studies. It can also provide helpful information in other neurological conditions.
If your child is being evaluated for seizures, an EEG can help:
It’s important to know that a normal EEG does not always rule out seizures. Your child’s history and clinical evaluation are just as important.
Performed in our office. After electrode placement, brain activity is recorded for approximately one hour. Your child may be asked to look at flashing lights or take deep breaths during the study.
Conducted in our office in a comfortable, private space. The electrodes remain in place overnight while we monitor brain activity during sleep. A trained EEG technologist remains onsite throughout the study.
Overnight monitoring helps us detect events that may occur only during sleep.
This study allows brain activity to be recorded at home over a longer period. Your child will come to the office first for electrode placement and instructions. After the recording period, you will return the equipment so our team can review the results.
Once the study is complete, our Epileptologist carefully reviews the recording. Results are discussed with you at your follow-up visit, along with any recommendations or next steps.
At NJPNI, our goal is to make every EEG experience calm, comfortable, and informative for both children and parents.
Neurocognitive testing is a gentle, structured way for us to better understand how your child thinks, learns, and processes information. It helps us see how different parts of the brain are working together.
The evaluation uses age-appropriate activities and computer-based tasks that feel similar to puzzles or school exercises. There are no needles, medical procedures, or physical discomfort involved.
For children with seizures or epilepsy, this testing helps us understand how their condition may be affecting learning, memory, attention, or behavior. It also helps us identify strengths — not just areas that may need extra support.
The evaluation may look at:
Your child’s results are compared to age-based expectations, which helps us clearly understand their unique learning profile. Testing can also be repeated over time to monitor growth and progress.
Most importantly, this evaluation helps us create a thoughtful, individualized plan so your child can feel confident and supported at home, in school, and in everyday life.
Autonomic testing is a safe, non-invasive evaluation that helps us understand how your child’s body automatically regulates important functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, and temperature.
These functions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system — the part of the nervous system that works quietly in the background without us having to think about it.
In some children with seizures or epilepsy, changes in these automatic body functions may play a role in symptoms. Autonomic testing can help us determine whether these systems are contributing to episodes and guide a more personalized treatment plan.
The test is painless, and our team works carefully to keep your child comfortable throughout the process.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy is a treatment option for some children ages 4 and older who continue to have seizures despite trying medication.
VNS works by sending gentle, regular signals through the vagus nerve — a nerve in the neck that connects to areas of the brain involved in seizure activity. The goal is to help reduce how often seizures happen and how severe they are over time.
VNS Therapy is typically used in addition to medication, not as a replacement. It may be considered when seizures are difficult to control with medicine alone.
Many families choose VNS because it may help:
Every child is different. Our team carefully evaluates whether VNS Therapy is an appropriate option based on seizure type, medical history, and treatment response.
If you would like additional information about VNS Therapy, educational materials are available below:
A balanced diet from different food groups help the body and brain to function, helping us to stay healthy! Our Pediatric Nutritionist can provide you with suggestions on a healthy diet, such as ketogenic diet or modified Atkins diet, that may help reduce the risk of seizures for some people with epilepsy. We will provide you with easy safe recipes to help stay on a healthy track.
Pediatric Psychological evaluations are individualized comprehensive assessments that target an individual’s patterns of current functioning to better understand cognitive abilities, socio-emotional functioning, behavior, and/or personality. We may refer you to see our Pediatric Psychologist to assist in finding a psychological intervention to fit the needs of your child. This may include, relaxation therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and education interventions that have been used in studies to reduce the frequency of seizures and improve the quality the life.
Additional Epilepsy Resources:
For more information about epilepsy and seizures, you may find these resources helpful:
Epilepsy Foundation: epilepsy.com
CDC Epilepsy Information: cdc.gov/epilepsy
Download this Epilepsy Information here:
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NOTICE: This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for a patient/physician relationship.
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