When most people think of seizures, they imagine someone shaking or losing consciousness. But not all seizures are obvious. Silent seizures, also known as non-motor seizures, happen without the typical physical signs that people expect. These seizures are subtle and can easily go unnoticed, both by the person experiencing them and those around them. Understanding what silent seizures are and how they affect people is important because they can be just as serious as other types of seizures.

What Are Silent Seizures?

Silent seizures don’t cause the dramatic physical symptoms like shaking or falling. Instead, they happen quietly and may cause brief lapses in awareness, like zoning out or staring into space. Sometimes, the person may not even realise they have had a seizure. These seizures are more common than people think and can affect anyone, but they are especially common in children and people with epilepsy.

There are different types of silent seizures, including absence seizures and focal seizures. Absence seizures are typically short (lasting only a few seconds) and make the person appear to stare blankly or lose awareness for a moment. Focal seizures can cause strange feelings or small physical movements, like twitching, but the person stays aware and awake.

How Are Silent Seizures Different To Normal Seizures

What makes silent seizures different from more common seizures, like the convulsions you might see in movies, is that they cause brief, almost invisible disruptions in a person’s behaviour or awareness. Because the symptoms are so subtle, it can be easy to miss or confuse them with daydreaming or attention problems. This can make them harder to spot and even harder to diagnose.

What Are Some Of The Common Signs To Watch Out For?

So how can you tell if someone is having a silent seizure? Since they don’t have the dramatic shaking, here are some signs to look for:

• Staring Spells – The most obvious sign is a sudden, blank stare where the person seems disconnected from what’s going on around them. These “spells” are usually very short, lasting only a few seconds.
• Daydreaming or Zoning Out – The person might seem like they are just daydreaming or not paying attention, but they could actually be having a seizure.
• Subtle Movements – In some cases, the person may have small movements like blinking, lip-smacking, or even twitching fingers, which can be even harder to notice.
• Confusion Afterward – After a seizure, the person might feel disoriented or confused for a short time, unsure of what just happened.
• Memory Issues – Silent seizures can interfere with memory. Someone might forget what they were doing just before or during the episode.

How Are Silent Seizures Diagnosed?

Because silent seizures don’t show up the way typical seizures do, diagnosing them can be tricky. Often, they are mistaken for simple distractions or attention problems. If you think someone is suffering with these types of seizures, it’s important that they see a doctor. They may perform tests like an EEG (which measures brain waves), or even use video monitoring to catch seizures as they happen. An MRI can also help rule out other causes like brain injuries or tumors.

Can Silent Seizures Be Treated?

The good news is that silent seizures can be treated, though it often takes time to find the right treatment. Medications, like anti-seizure drugs, are the most common way to control silent seizures. These drugs can help reduce the frequency of seizures and make it easier for people to manage daily life. In addition to medication, lifestyle changes like reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and avoiding triggers, which are often hard to kick as a habit, can help prevent silent seizures from happening.

In rare cases where medication isn’t effective, other treatments may be suggested, such as special diets (like the ketogenic diet) or cognitive therapy to improve brain function.

Impact on Daily Life

Although silent seizures don’t involve dramatic physical symptoms, they can still affect a person’s life in a big way. They can cause problems with memory, concentration, and attention, making it hard to stay focused at school or work. This can lead to frustration and sometimes make the person feel misunderstood or isolated, especially if others don’t realise what’s going on.

For children, silent seizures can be particularly difficult because teachers and classmates might think they are simply daydreaming. If seizures go unnoticed or untreated for too long, they can have long-term effects on a person’s development and overall well-being.

Our Experience with Seizures

Recently, we have been dealing with the possibility of silent seizures in our own family. My son, Toby, has been showing some signs that might point to him suffering with these seizures. We have noticed a few moments where he appears to zone out or stare blankly during the day, which has made us concerned. Toby’s pediatrician has referred him for an EEG to see if silent seizures are the cause. We are still waiting for the appointment, which may take a while, but we will keep you updated on the results once we know more.

What’s interesting is that we’ve had a family member who also experienced silent seizures when they were younger. They didn’t have the classic seizure symptoms like shaking, but as they got older, it became clear that they had been affected by epilepsy in a more subtle way. This family history has made us even more aware of the possibility that Toby could be dealing with the same thing.

They are important to recognise, but not as obvious to spot

Silent seizures may not be as obvious as other types of seizures, but they are just as important to recognise and treat. If you notice signs like staring spells, daydreaming, or unusual movements in yourself or someone you know, it’s worth talking to a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. Silent seizures can be managed with the right treatment, allowing people to lead normal, fulfilling lives. The key is understanding the condition, recognising the symptoms, and seeking help when needed, just like we did with Toby. We hope Toby’s diagnosis will provide clarity and help us figure out the best way forward.