If you have experienced your first seizure, it is important to receive medical attention as soon as possible. Doctors will evaluate whether or not your seizure was an isolated incident. Your seizure may have been caused by a temporary medical problem that can be corrected. In other words, you may have had a non-epileptic seizure, which uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain did not cause. If this is the case, our medical team will direct you to receive the proper care and guidance.
Learn more about non-epileptic seizures.
Epileptic Seizure Diagnosis
If your seizures are caused by an uncontrolled spread of electricity in the brain, they are considered epileptic seizures. If you have experienced at least two unprovoked epileptic seizures, you will receive a diagnosis of epilepsy.
The beginning stages of epilepsy diagnosis are very important. This is because treatment will largely depend on several factors, mainly:
- Where in the brain your seizure originated
- What type of seizure you have had
When one of our epilepsy specialists evaluates you, he or she may recommend that you receive a thorough evaluation in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). The EMU is a sophisticated diagnostic center for epilepsy not available at most hospitals. An experienced team of epilepsy specialists will conduct your evaluation, and explain your diagnosis to you in terms that you can understand.
Epilepsy Diagnosis at MedStar Georgetown
The team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, and neuroradiologists will use a wide variety of diagnostic methods and tools to determine:
- Whether or not you have epilepsy
- What kind of seizures you have been experiencing
- Your treatment options
The results of your initial testing will drive your treatment plan. Your medical team will present you with the treatment options most able to control your seizures effectively, and give you the quality of life that you deserve.
Learn more about the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
