Semiahmoo House Young Adults Travel with Peers Instead of Parents

March 28, 2008 By

Today, my son Adam left on a very special trip to Disneyland. Why it was so special is because it was a trip that catered to a group of special needs kids who wanted to travel as young adults without their parents! All these kids are teens and young adults

Filed Under: Epilepsy News, Journal

Epilepsy Statistics: How Many and How Old?

March 10, 2008 By

Epilepsy statistics in the US and Canada reveal that it affects about 1% of the population. In the US, that’s nearly 3 million people and more than 300,000 in Canada. Every year, more than 200,000 US citizens and 14,000 Canadians learn they have this condition. Most new cases occur in

Filed Under: Epilepsy, Epilepsy News

Epilepsy Awareness Month

March 10, 2008 By

In both Canada and the US, one calendar month each year is designated as National Epilepsy Awareness Month. In March, Canadians wear a lavender ribbon and fragrant flower to draw attention to a disorder that affects more than 300,000 of their fellow citizens. In the States, November is National Epilepsy

Filed Under: Epilepsy, Epilepsy News

Diagnosis for Epilepsy: What to Expect

March 10, 2008 By

When you or someone you love has had a seizure for the first time, it can be frightening. Naturally, you want to know as soon as possible what caused it. But making a diagnosis of epilepsy often isn’t a quick process. Finding answers usually involves several exams and tests. Your

Filed Under: Diagnosis / Seizure Types, Epilepsy

Head Injuries and Epilepsy

March 10, 2008 By

Injuries to the brain from trauma are a common cause of seizure disorders. When it comes to head injuries and epilepsy, the more severe the injury, the greater the likelihood of seizures. Injuries to the front and sides of the brain are more likely to result in epilepsy. Between five

Filed Under: Diagnosis / Seizure Types, Epilepsy

Epilepsy in the Classroom

March 10, 2008 By

One of the best ways to help your child at school is to treat her seizure disorder like any one of a number of other conditions that children have. Here are some specific strategies for helping a child with epilepsy succeed in the classroom. Be proactive. At the beginning of

Filed Under: Epilepsy, School Issues & Learning

Epilepsy and Diet: G.A.R.D Against Seizures?

March 10, 2008 By

Here’s some news about epilepsy and diet so new that hasn’t made it to the mainstream yet: the G.A.R.D. G.A.R.D. stands for the Glutamate/Aspartate Restricted Diet, and it’s the brainchild of John B. Symes, DVM, also known as Dogtor J. He’s a veterinarian by training and a long-time sufferer from

Filed Under: Special Diets & Nutrition

Seizures and Learning

March 10, 2008 By

Some epilepsy news is sobering. Seizures and learning problems often go hand in hand. One expert estimates that nearly 50% of people with epilepsy also have a learning disability. According to The Hospital for Sick Children,both seizures and the medications used to treat them can cause learning problems. Memory problems

Filed Under: Epilepsy, School Issues & Learning

Preventing Seizures with the Ketogenic Diet

March 10, 2008 By

Following a strict diet isn’t easy—but it helps reduce seizures. More and more evidence shows that a high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for seizure disorders. This kind of epilepsy news is welcome, indeed! How effective is changing what you eat at preventing seizures? One study

Filed Under: Epilepsy, Ketogenic Diet, Special Diets & Nutrition