Epilepsy is a condition that causes repeated seizures, which happen because of unusual electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy is diagnosed when brain abnormalities show up in electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. There are many types of epilepsy, each with its own symptoms. Knowing your specific type can help you and your doctor better understand what to expect with epileptic seizures, how your condition might affect learning or development, and what treatment options are available.

Types of Seizures

There are three major categories of seizures depending on where the seizures start. Other types of epilepsy are known as syndromes, which are collections of specific signs and symptoms that point to a certain medical condition. The three categories of seizures are:

• Unknown-onset seizures — For these types, healthcare providers are unsure about where the seizures originate.
• Generalized-onset seizures — In these cases, seizures don’t start or stay within one area of the brain, and can cause different types of seizures. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy accounts for about one-third of cases.
• Focal-onset seizures — These are defined by the area of the brain where the seizures begin, with abnormal electrical activity starting in a specific region. Focal epilepsies can spread to other parts of the brain and become generalized seizures.

Read more about types of seizures.

Types of Epilepsy and Epilepsy Syndromes

Each type of epilepsy has unique characteristics and brain activity. Some syndromes are considered benign, meaning children will eventually become seizure-free as they grow older, while other types of epilepsy are lifelong.

Each type of epilepsy has unique characteristics and brain activity. Some syndromes are considered benign, meaning children will eventually become seizure-free as they grow older, while other types of epilepsy are lifelong.

Read on to learn more about 11 types of epilepsy.

1. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Approximately 60 percent of people with focal epilepsy have temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), or seizures that originate in the brain’s temporal lobe. The temporal lobe is located on the sides of the brain, near the ears, and is responsible for processing sound and language, as well as memories relating to sound and vision. About one-third of TLE or other cases of focal epilepsy are resistant to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Doctors might suggest epilepsy surgery to remove part of the brain, or they might use special devices, such as vagus nerve stimulation, to help treat the problem.

TLE usually develops between late adolescence and early adulthood, often after a head injury or febrile (fever-induced) seizure. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can sometimes increase focal seizure activity, also known as catamenial epilepsy.

Focal-onset seizures are most common for people with TLE, though some may experience prolonged seizures or, in rare circumstances, status epilepticus (repeated, long-lasting seizures).

Approximately 60 percent of people with focal epilepsy have temporal lobe epilepsy, or seizures that originate in the brain’s temporal lobe.

2. Frontal Lobe Epilepsy

Frontal lobe epilepsy is the second most common type of epilepsy and is a type of focal epilepsy. This type may be either inherited or caused by a structural problem such as a birth defect, an abnormal blood vessel, trauma, or scarring caused by infection. In about 50 percent of FLE cases, no cause is ever determined.

The brain’s frontal lobes are large. They help regulate personality, behavior, and cognitive function (learning, thinking, and decision-making). FLE seizures frequently happen at night and can be mistakenly diagnosed as sleep disturbance or mental health problems.

Symptoms can vary widely, depending on how the lobe is affected. Frontal lobe epilepsy is typically treated with medication. But if AEDs are ineffective, surgery or neuromodulation may help, including vagus nerve stimulation, responsible neurostimulation, or deep brain stimulation.

3. Occipital Lobe Epilepsy

The occipital lobes, located in the back of the brain, are primarily responsible for vision. Occipital lobe epilepsy is a rare type of focal epilepsy that affects sight. The cause of seizures that begin in the occipital lobe is often unknown, but may be due to lesions in the occipital lobe from brain injury, birth defect, or genetic factors. AEDs are usually the first treatment option, though surgery may help if medications aren’t successful.

4. Parietal Lobe Epilepsy

The parietal lobes are located on the top and upper sides of the head. This area is known as the “association cortex” because it’s where perception takes on meaning — sounds are recognized as words, visual images are formed, and touch is associated with an object. Focal epilepsy originating in the parietal lobe is much less common than TLE and FLE. Seizures that begin in the parietal lobes can cause sensory disturbances and sensations such as hallucinations, heat sensations, spatial distortion, difficulty understanding words, and numbness.

Some cases are caused by brain trauma, tumors, or stroke, but often the cause is unknown. AEDs are the first treatment option. If medication fails, surgery may be recommended.

5. Panayiotopoulos Syndrome

Also known as early childhood onset occipital epilepsy, Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS) usually starts between 3 and 6 years of age, but can develop later. Its cause is unknown. About 6 percent of children who have epilepsy have this syndrome.

Panayiotopoulos syndrome frequently stops two to three years after the first seizure. In rare cases, children with PS may develop other forms of epilepsy, such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).

Children with PS typically have focal aware seizures that can spread to a generalized seizure. Seizures in PS last between one and 30 minutes, and more than half occur during sleep. Typical symptoms include pale skin, a sick feeling, and vomiting. Some children also have tonic-clonic movements (stiffening and jerking of muscles).

Infrequent seizures might not require medication. However, if needed, AEDs are usually effective at controlling PS seizures. Neurologists often teach parents how to initiate rescue therapy and create an emergency plan for children with PS.

6. Benign Rolandic Epilepsy

Benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) — also known as benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes — usually begins around ages 6 to 8 years. Boys are slightly more likely to have BRE than girls. BRE accounts for about 15 percent of all epilepsies in children.

Benign rolandic epilepsy is a focal epilepsy characterized by numbness, twitching, or tingling of the face or tongue. Seizures may make it hard to speak and may cause drooling. The child remains conscious during seizures, which are infrequent and occur mostly at night. AEDs may be prescribed if the seizures happen during the day or disrupt sleep, but many children don’t need medication. Seizures stop by early adolescence in almost all children with BRE.

7. Childhood Absence Epilepsy

Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) accounts for 2 percent to 8 percent of childhood epilepsy cases. This generalized epilepsy typically begins between ages 3 and 11, most frequently between ages 5 and 8. One-third of children with CAE have a family history of seizures, suggesting that this may be one of the types of genetic epilepsy. Siblings of children with CAE have a 10 percent chance of developing epilepsy.

Children with CAE experience absence seizures (formerly known as petit mal seizures). In this type of seizure, the child isn’t aware or responsive during seizures and may stare, blink, or roll their eyes upward. You may notice them making a chewing motion or other repetitive movements. Seizures usually last less than 15 seconds, after which the child immediately returns to normal. The child usually isn’t aware that they had a seizure. Seizures may be infrequent or happen many times a day.

Some children with frequent CAE seizures have concentration and memory problems before seizures start, but most children with this type of epilepsy have normal development.

At least two-thirds of children with childhood absence epilepsy respond to treatment, and their seizures will end by midadolescence. If AEDs aren’t effective, the ketogenic diet may help. However, 10 percent to 15 percent of children with CAE will develop other seizure types during adolescence — typically, myoclonic seizures (“myoclonic” meaning short periods of jerking movements), generalized tonic-clonic seizures (formerly known as grand mal seizures), or both.

8. Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), also known as Janz syndrome, is another type of childhood epilepsy and is one of the most common generalized epilepsy syndromes. This syndrome tends to begin in the teen years.

Everyone with JME has myoclonic seizures, which cause sudden jerking in limbs or throughout the body. Tonic-clonic seizures are also common with JME. Absence seizures occur in about one-third of people with JME and can be the first sign of JME.

Seizures tend to occur upon waking in the morning and can be triggered by a lack of sleep, excessive alcohol, and stress or anxiety. Photosensitivity (seizures triggered by flashing or flickering light) affects more than one-third of people with JME.

Most cases of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy are treatable with AEDs, which are usually needed for life.

9. Juvenile Absence Epilepsy

Juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) is similar to childhood absence epilepsy. However, it starts later in childhood — generally between ages 10 and 16 — and is usually a lifelong condition. Between 1 percent and 2 percent of people with epilepsy have juvenile absence epilepsy. Although it’s rare to have a family history of seizures, the cause of JAE is thought to be genetic.

People with JAE generally experience absence seizures lasting from 10 to 45 seconds. They tend to have fewer than one absence seizure per day, often during exercise. Around 80 percent of those with JAE will also have tonic-clonic seizures. JAE also carries a higher risk of absence status epilepticus — a type of nonconvulsive status epilepticus — an emergency condition in which seizures can last for more than 30 minutes.

Most children with JAE develop normally, although they may have learning difficulties if they experience frequent seizures. Sometimes, concentration and memory problems arise before seizures start. These issues often improve with the use of AEDs, which work well to treat JAE and generally must be taken for life.

10. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe generalized epilepsy syndrome, occurring in 3 percent to 4 percent of children with epilepsy, and is more common in males. LGS usually appears in early childhood and in infancy.

Children with LGS experience different types of seizures, particularly tonic-clonic seizures, atonic seizures (causing a loss of muscle tone, often with falling or drop attacks), and atypical absence seizures. Developmental and behavioral problems occur among two-thirds of children with LGS.

LGS is sometimes caused by other conditions, but often the cause is unknown. The condition is difficult to treat (refractory) because it is usually resistant to AEDs. A newer treatment, cannabidiol (Epidiolex), may provide more help than AEDs.

A report found that a ketogenic diet was effective in reducing seizures by 50 percent or more in people with LGS. Surgery and vagus nerve stimulation have also been shown to be effective in treating LGS, according to another study.

11. Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsies

Progressive myoclonic epilepsies (PMEs) are a group of rare syndromes and types of epilepsy characterized by a combination of tonic-clonic and myoclonic seizures that worsen over time. The most common seizure disorders that fall under this category include:

• Lafora disease
• Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (also known as Batten disease)
• Unverricht-Lundborg disease (also known as Baltic myoclonus)

Progressive myoclonic epilepsies usually start between the ages of 6 and 16, depending on the specific condition. The cause is often hereditary but may be unknown.

Seizures in progressive myoclonic epilepsies are hard to control. As the condition progresses, people with PME develop cognitive (thinking and memory) and motor (movement) disabilities. Medications may be successful at first, but their effectiveness declines over months or years as the disease progresses.

Challenges Faced by People Living With Epilepsy

Most types of epilepsy bring difficulties beyond the seizures themselves. Epilepsy can affect mood, disrupt sleep, affect social interactions, lead to thinking and memory problems, cause bone health issues, and, in some cases, increase the risk of early death.

If you or your child needs help coping with epilepsy, talk to a healthcare provider about treatment options and other resources that may help you manage some of the daily challenges that come with epilepsy.

Most types of epilepsy bring difficulties beyond the seizures themselves. Epilepsy can affect mood, disrupt sleep, cause bone health issues, and, in some cases, increase the risk of early death.

Sometimes, epileptic seizures aren’t easy to notice. If you think that you or a loved one might be having seizures without realizing it, talk to a neurologist as soon as possible.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyEpilepsyTeam, the social network for people with epilepsy, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with epilepsy.

What kind of epilepsy do you or your child live with? What are your challenges? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.