LIVING WITH EPILEPSY

YOUTH

Childhood

A great nmber of newly diagnosed patients are children under the age of 10. Epilepsy in childhood can change the life of the child diagnosed with epilepsy along with family.

A child's seizures can have an effect on a childs education. Effects of anti-seizure medication disturbs the child's routines. Safety issues lead parents to become overly protective, resulting in isolation from other children. Parents of a child would have real concerns.

Epilepsy Foundation is an organisation available to support and empower the parents to manage their childs epilepsy.

Teens

Being a teenager is an adventure for both boys and girls. Enjoying life with friends to dating, playing sports to entertainment, this list can go on. Teens in natural living face big challenges, however teens with epilepsy face extra additional challenges. There are difficulties explaining epilepsy and seizures to the peer group for fear of their reactions.

Anxienty and uncertainty of when the seizures will occur and what the friends responses would be is a challenge in itself.

A big challenge is ignorance on the knowledge of epilepsy which impacts on freindships, relationships and participating in sporting activities.

EDUCATION

 

Your Rights as a Student

Epilepsy cannot be used as a reason to hold you back from activities in school or college. Your school or college should not use epilepsy as an excuse to stop you from playing sports, joining after-hour study activities, participating in class/lecture events and taking field trips.

Getting involved

Recommendable: Social activities, being part of support groups and interaction with other people will bring about a better undertstanding of your condition of epilepsy and show you are no different to others.

If you need to take a break during any activities, don't hesitate to let your coach or faculty advisor know. The important thing is to keep yourself healthy and keep your seizures under control.