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Explaining seizures to a very young child who doesn't know much about his/her own body or how it works can be quite difficult. The description given by a seven year old named Peter, of his own seizures would be helpful even for very young children:
"It's like when you are watching TV and the picture gets all blurry and fuzzy for a minute and then goes back on again OK. That's what it's like to me."
It a good idea to add to this simple explanation that this happens to lots of people, children and grown-ups, and special medicine can keep your picture clear.
An older child can be given a more detailed explanation along the following lines:
“Our brain, which is inside our head, controls everything we do, walking, talking, seeing, hearing, and even sleeping. Everyone has a little bit of electricity in his or her brain, and this electricity helps the brain send messages to our body to tell it what to do.
“Sometimes people make too much electricity in their brain and the messages get all mixed up. That's what is happening when you have a seizure. It's a bit like the way static can make the picture on the TV set go all fuzzy, or disappear for a minute.
“The tablets you take help to stop the electricity increasing so that you won't have a seizure so often. Lots of people, both children and grown ups, have this problem with too much electricity, and they all take tablets to keep in order.”
Some children believe that by taking extra amounts of medication they will have better seizure control and their epilepsy may even be cured. Sometimes children get the idea that taking more than the usual dose of medicine will work better than the standard dose. This can be a dangerous belief if the child decides to act on it.
It is suggested that parents should find out as much as they can about their child's condition, since they are bound to want to know a lot more as they get older. Parents of children who have epilepsy can help their children understand why they take medication by explaining that:
“Epilepsy medicine works best when you take a little bit at a time. Just like the doctor said.
“Taking lots of medicine at once wouldn't make you better; it would probably make you sick.
“Epilepsy medicines sometimes take a while to work, and some people still have a few seizures even though they are taking their medication.”
Some books, which are particularly useful for children are listed below:
What difference does it make to Danny?
Helen Young. Suitable for ages 9-12 years old, available through bookshops.
Epilepsy - the detective story
Peter Rogan. Suitable for age's 7-12 years old, available from Brainwave, The Irish Epilepsy Association.
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