What is a Seizure Disorder?

People with epilepsy have a neurological disorder that is characterized by seizures. Messages are normally sent within a person's brain by electrochemical signals. During a seizure, abnormal electrical activity occurs as a large number of brain cells send their messages rhythmically and at once, disrupting normal functioning. As this happens, the individual may experience uncontrollable changes in movement, breathing, behaviour, sensation and consciousness. Most seizures last less than five minutes and after a few seconds or minutes, the brain regains control and the individual returns to normal. A person is said to have a seizure disorder (or epilepsy), when he or she has repeated seizures.

People with epilepsy are usually able to control completely their seizures with drug therapy and to lead active and full lives. Very small percentages of cases are drug-resistant (or intractable) and can be more complicated to manage, but these individuals can still live rewarding lives. Some intractable epilepsy occurs with developmental delay. However, seizures do not cause developmental delay.