Absence Siezures and Eye Flutter: Preparing Your Child for School

Starting a new school year can be frightening to young children, especially a child who lives wit absence seizure complications. If you are preparing your child for school, it is important to not only educate your child in how to effectively manage seizure activity while in the classroom, but to also teach your child's teacher in how to respond appropriately.

Unlike atonic seizures, absence seizures are typically less frightful for students and teachers in the classroom. As a type of seizure that causes little to no bodily movement, children with this type of seizure disorder often experience seizures in the classroom without any knowledge from the teacher or peers. The greatest health concern, with regard to absence seizures, is the risk for abnormal eye flutter movement which may cause some students to engage in questionable bullying of your child.

As your child enters into school, it is important to make not only the school district away but to also keep your child's teacher informed of any changes in your child's health status. By educating the teacher in the ways of absence seizure, you can mitigate some of the attention brought about by the seizure should the teacher recognize your child is having one. Because eye flutter movement is one of the move common signs of a seizure, the teacher may be the only person in the classroom who identifies the seizure in your child. While the seizure occurs, your child will not be aware of activities in the classroom and, as a result, the teacher may need to repeat specific aspects of lessons to ensure your child has obtained all the information.

Because little to no body movement is expected with an absence seizure and eye flutter, a nurse typically is not needed once your child is out of the seizure activity. But, the teacher should be willing to ask your child if they need to go to the nurse's office to lie down for a few minutes. In many cases, your child will choose to continue about their day as if nothing has happened. If your child is still anxious about the potential absence seizures, use self EMDR to help your child overcome anxiety and issues of school phobia.

Educating students and teachers about the various types of seizures is important to your child's health and well being while in school. Ultimately, with absence seizures, the greatest issue to be addressed is the awareness of the seizure activity among other students and, if aware, to avoid bullying in cases where students feel they can engage in such behavior. Always keep your child's emotional health at the forefront with this type of physical health disorder.

Sources: The Official Parent's Sourcebook on Febrile Seizures, by Icon Health Publications.