The following is from a page in the magazine "Epilepsy Advocate":

Seizure types and causes vary greatly from person to person.  Two epilepsy specialists discus why understanding and identifying the differences is important to you and your doctor.

Q: How do doctors determine what types of seizures you have?  And why is knowing your types of seizures important to your treatment?

A: Identifying the person's seizure type is the first step to determining the best treatment course, Elizabeth Thiele says.  To identify what types of seizures you are having, two key pieces of information  are needed: a personal description of any sensations or feelings experienced before the seizure happened and an observer's description of what the seizure looked like.  "If you can tell your doctor what it felt like--such as if you experienced a sense of fear, tingling or an aversion to odors--we can better diagnose the seizure type," Thiele says.  It is helpful if the person who observed the seizure can give details about what happened; for example, if both sides of the person's body had similar movements, such as both arms shaking or jerking.  Another important detail is whether the person was weak after the seizure.  This information can help the physician determine if the seizure was generalized or partial, which begins to narrow down the appropriate medication options.

Q: How are seizures different?

A: "Seizures may be unique in many ways," says Nikesh Ardeshna.  "Most notably, seizures differ in terms of how they look to the person with epilepsy or an observer."  The cause of seizures varies from one person to the next.  For example, epilepsy can be the result of genetics, infection, tumors, trauma or more commonly--an unknown cause.  While many seizures involve uncontrollable shaking or movement of the arms and legs, absence seizures--common in children ages five to 10--can simply involve staring.  "Seizures can also be different in terms of when they occur during the day or how long they last," Ardeshna says.  "Generally speaking, a seizure can last from a few seconds to a few minutes."

Q: Is it common to have more than one type of seizure?

A: Yes, but multiseizure conditions are often linked to age.  "It is more common for adults to have complex partial seizures," Thiele says.  In children, however, it's actually pretty common to have more than one type of seizure.  "We don't yet understand why, but we think it has to do with the changes taking place in an immature yet developing brain," Thiele adds.  "For example, how a seizure spreads can differ as a child's brain matures and develops."

Q: Over time, is it possible to develop an additional seizure type?

A: "While most people have one type of seizure, it is possible to develop an additional type over time," Ardeshna says.  A new seizure type in adults may indicate a change in your condition.  That's why it is so important to share this information with your physician so that he or she can re-evaluate your condition.

For more expert advice about epilepsy, go to www.Epilepsy Advocate.com.