Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But you’ll probably start to notice them happening more often and lasting longer. They’re less likely to happen when your child is busy or focused on an activity that they enjoy.Īs a parent, you may initially pass off these episodes as your child day-dreaming or not paying attention. Your child is more likely to have an absence seizure when they’re sitting quietly, tired or unwell. These may be classed as ‘atypical’ absence seizures. Occasionally, an absence seizure may come on more gradually and last for longer (more than than 15 or 20 seconds). Sometimes they might appear a little confused, but only for a couple of seconds. Afterwards, your child may just go back to what they were doing, as though nothing has happened. The seizure usually lasts for around 10 seconds and stops as suddenly as it starts. Make slight, repetitive movements with their fingers, hands, mouth or eyes called ‘automatisms’.Not respond to people talking to them or gently touching them.Stop talking or what they are doing, and stare blankly into space.In a typical absence seizure, your child may: This can be more than 30 times a day for some children. If your child has CAE, they may have lots of absence seizures on a daily basis.
