Top of this page
Skip navigation, go straight to the content

Frequently Asked Questions

Being told that you or someone you know has epilepsy can be frightening. There is a lot to learn about the condition, and everyone's experience of epilepsy is different. You probably have lots of questions about what is happening and why. Here we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about epilepsy. Learning about epilepsy can help you feel more confident about managing the condition so that you get the best care and get on with your life with confidence.

Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions. You can also listen to the epilepsy ambassadors' answers to your questions.

Click on a question in the list below to read the answer

About Epilepsy

Diagnosis

What tests will I need?

Doctors use many different tests when diagnosing epilepsy. For example, some people may have blood tests or heart checks to make sure that another condition, such as diabetes, isn't the cause of their seizures. Other tests look at the activity of the brain. There are many different types of tests, some of which include EEGs (electroencephalograms), video telemetry, brain scans, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans and CAT (computerised axial tomography) scans. It is unlikely you will need all of these. The tests doctors recommend will also depend on what you can tell them about your seizures and which test they think will help them find out what is causing your seizures.

Treatment

What Can I Do About my Epilepsy Management?