Epilepsy is a seizure condition, and while 2.5 million Americans suffer from it, the majority of new cases are in children. A single seizure does not indicate epilepsy, rather, your child might have it if he is prone to experiencing multiple seizures. In addition to the physical changes that occur during a seizure, such as sudden falls, stomach pain and lack of response, the condition can change your child’s behavior as well. While some behaviors are more common than others, keep in mind that every child responds to the condition differently and the changes can vary according to the area of the brain that is most affected in your child’s case.

Acting Out

Approximately one in four children with epilepsy experiences behavior problems. Your child might act out in order to express anger or fear about her condition, and some behavior issues could be the result of brain damage or chemical imbalances as a result of the seizures. Your child might experience aggression or other negative behaviors out of frustration from being unable to communicate her experiences with seizures.

Emotions

Aside from negative behavior characteristics, you may notice typical behaviors from your child in general and in the time surrounding seizure episodes. A young child might experience social problems if he is unable to understand his epilepsy, and if the seizures have affected the parts of his brain needed for cognitive and social development. Immediately before and after seizures, you might notice that your child appears fazed or experiences sudden fear. In general, your child can also exhibit abnormal behavior in the few days leading up to and following a seizure. This abnormal behavior will differ between each child, but will be a behavior change that you notice each time.

Recommendations

Your reaction to your child can affect some of the behaviors associated with her epilepsy. You can alleviate some of her fear or anxiety by offering plenty of encouragement and support, and by answering any of the questions she has about her condition honestly. Offer reassurance in the moments where she appears to be angry. Although your child might appear to be more dependent because of her epilepsy, you can give her plenty of chances to be independent in order to encourage her, potentially reducing the times that she acts out in aggression or is withdrawn.

Considerations

Although your child might outgrow his seizures and the associated behavior problems, he could remain with the condition into adolescence and might have residual behavioral issues even after the seizures become less frequent. Talk to your child’s doctor about any parenting concerns that you might have, including how to best handle the issues you face due to the epilepsy.