Frontal Lobe Epilepsy in Children: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Epilepsy, of any type, can be life altering and lead to a variety of secondary health complications that we typically do not associate with a seizure disorder. In children who are diagnosed as suffering from frontal lobe epilepsy, the issues of seizure disorder is only one aspect of the healthcare with the issues of mental health and personality changes also a concern.

Unlike other forms of epilepsy, frontal lobe epilepsy is a type of neurological disorder that affects the functions of the frontal lobe of the brain. Because the frontal lobe is responsible for our executive functions, memory, personality traits, and control over impulsivity, individuals who have frontal lobe epilepsy may, at times, have changes in their memory and personality immediately before a seizure develops.

Using a functional MRI scan, most neurologists can rule out, or confirm, the presence of frontal lobe epilepsy and provide care in accordance with the recommendations for this condition. Oftentimes, these studies need to be performed to rule out the presence of other neurological disorders, including Smooth Brain syndrome. Because frontal lobe epilepsy can have profound mental health implications, many doctors will recommend not only physical treatment for the seizures and neurological disorder, but also treatment for mental health - including medications and the use of psychotherapy.

If your child has been diagnosed with frontal lobe epilepsy, you may find that seizures are absent in nature - meaning they often manifest and progress without little to any awareness by you or anyone in the family. Your child, however, may make poor decisions or have an inability to remember specific facts immediately before, or during, the seizure occurrence. For this reason, it is important that everyone involved with your child's care become aware of the symptoms of frontal lobe seizures and recognize when the seizures are taking place.

With the right medications, therapy, and treatment for seizure disorder, many children with frontal lobe epilepsy grow into adulthood with little to no health complications. The key to your child's optimal physical and emotional health will lie in the aggressive nature by which you manage the symptoms and work to mitigate the outcome when the mental health issues become a concern.

Sources: Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood, by John Freeman