PrintWhat is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes signals to be sent improperly from the brain. These confused signals cause seizures (involuntary sensations, movements or convulsions). Epilepsy can begin at any age and can be caused by brain damage or injury, abnormal brain development or an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
Most patients with epilepsy are able to completely or partially control their seizures with anti-epileptic drug therapy or through surgery.
UHN’s Epilepsy Program Care Area
Many patients are referred to the UHN Epilepsy care area by their family physicians. Our team is highly experienced in identifying, investigating and treating epilepsy.
The first stop for most patients is our Ambulatory Epilepsy Clinic. In this clinic, a team made up of neurologists, a nurse clinician and an acute care nurse practitioner conducts tests that help find out if a patient is suffering from epilepsy. Tests may include an electroencephalogram (EEG) and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) test. These tests help the team better understand the seizures, what may be causing them and how severe they are. A neuropsychologist may also test language, memory and other cognitive functions to locate the source of seizures in the brain.
After investigating the location and type of epilepsy, the team will talk with patients about the best course of treatment. The most common treatment is anti-epileptic drug therapy, which allows almost half of epilepsy patients to completely control their symptoms. However, some patients may be candidates for surgery if drug therapy does not prevent seizures. Our epilepsy team is also leading the way with research into other ways of controlling seizures, such as vagus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation.
