Why is temporal lobe epilepsy common

Most of the time, TLE starts when a person is aged 10—20 years , but it can occur at any age. These classifications include focal onset aware seizures and focal impaired awareness seizures.

During a focal onset aware seizure , a person remains alert. These types of seizures often include strange feelings or sensations known as auras. However, auras do not occur in all people who have TLE, and in those who do have them, not everyone remembers them.

Epilepsy auras are the earliest symptoms of a seizure, and they may indicate an oncoming seizure. Common auras include strange feelings such as fear, joy, or anxiety.

They may also involve unusual odors, tastes, or sounds. Auras may involve digestive discomfort, nausea, or the feeling of butterflies in the stomach. People can also experience auras that cause a feeling of deja vu or a sensation that begins in the stomach and rises to the chest or throat. If a person loses awareness during a seizure, it is known as a focal impaired awareness seizure. They may repeatedly swallow, chew, or smack their lips. They may also stare at or fumble with their hands.

During the seizure, the person may also have difficulty speaking or understanding language. They may also be unable to respond to people or be unaware of their surroundings, even if they appear to be aware. After a temporal lobe seizure, a person may experience confusion and speech difficulties or feel extremely weak or sleepy.

They may also be unable to remember the seizure. For example, they can perform an MRI scan to see if there are structural changes in the temporal lobe, which can be present with TLE.

Usually, however, there is no visible structural problem with this type of epilepsy. An unusual sensation aura may precede a temporal lobe seizure, acting as a warning. Not everyone who has temporal lobe seizures has auras, and not everyone who has auras remembers them. The aura is actually the first part of a focal seizure before consciousness is impaired.

Examples of auras include:. Sometimes temporal lobe seizures impair your ability to respond to others. This type of temporal lobe seizure usually lasts 30 seconds to two minutes. Characteristic signs and symptoms include:. In extreme cases, what starts as a temporal lobe seizure evolves into a generalized tonic-clonic grand mal seizure — featuring convulsions and loss of consciousness. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.

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Bracelets and devices for people with epilepsy ». While temporal lobe epilepsy can be successfully treated with medication or surgery, it always poses a danger to those living with it and possibly others, especially during the operation of heavy machinery or motor vehicles.

Additionally, people with epilepsy who are resistant to drug treatment are more likely to experience memory and mood problems. These challenges can lead to a reduced quality of life and an increased risk of death.

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Neocortical or lateral temporal lobe epilepsy involves the outer part of the temporal lobe. Tips Seizure Observation Recording. Seizure Description Form - English and Spanish. Instructions for Using Seizure Calendars.

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