Is epilepsy considered an intellectual disability?
Most people with epilepsy do not have intellectual disabilities, but a substantial minority of people with intellectual disabilities have epilepsy. Epilepsy is known to be a potentially disabling, chronic and socially isolating condition. A diagnosis of Epilepsy even now still carries a stigma.
What does medically refractory epilepsy mean?
Some people with epilepsy will have, or will one day develop, refractory epilepsy. This means that medicines don’t work well, or at all, to control the seizures. If you have refractory epilepsy, the type of seizures you have may affect your treatment. Seizures may be: Primary (generalized) seizures.
How does epilepsy affect intellectually?
Epilepsy and Cognitive Disorders The most frequent cognitive complaints in adults are feeling slowed down mentally, memory impairment, and attention problems. Memory problems are an important feature of seizures arising from one part of the brain called the temporal lobe. Short-term memory problems are seen most often.
Why is refractory epilepsy a problem?
Refractory epilepsy can have a big effect on your life. People with refractory epilepsy may have trouble at work or school. They may worry a lot about when their next seizure will come. They may also have injuries that result from their seizures.
What kind of disability is epilepsy considered?
Is Epilepsy Considered A Disability? Epilepsy is considered a disability and it has a listing in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book. For epilepsy to qualify for disability benefits, it must meet the criteria of the Blue Book listing. There are different listings for epilepsy in the Blue Book.
Is a child with epilepsy considered disabled?
The SSA details how often the child’s seizures must occur, depending on the type of seizure disorder, for them to qualify as a disability. The SSA has combined the listings for convulsive and nonconvulsive epilepsy into one listing, listing 112.02.
Is refractory epilepsy serious?
[4] Medically refractory epilepsy, therefore, is a major health concern not only for patients and their families, but for society. Treatment objectives for epilepsy are no seizures, and no side effects, as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of refractory epilepsy?
The symptoms of refractory epilepsy are seizures despite taking anti-seizure medication. Your seizures could take different forms and last from a few seconds to a few minutes. You may have convulsions, which means you can’t stop your body from shaking.
Can epilepsy cause learning disabilities?
Cognitive impairments that affect language, memory, attention, and other abilities critical to normal development are common among people with epilepsy. As many as half of those with the disorder experience learning problems, ranging from mild difficulties to severe dysfunction.
Does epilepsy worsen IQ affect learning?
[6,7] Dodson[8] reported that children with epilepsy have an intelligence quotient (IQ) score that is 10 points lower than their healthy, age-matched peers. Epilepsy can affect a person’s education, career, general health, mental health, and marriage, among other things.
How do you know if you have refractory epilepsy?
Is epilepsy a developmental disability?
A developmental disability is defined in state and federal law as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism.