Secondarily generalised seizure - see focal to bilateral tonic clonic seizure
Seizure - A seizure is a disruption in the normal pattern of electrical impulses in the brain. This can cause changes in sensation, awareness, and behaviour, or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms or loss of consciousness, depending on where the seizure starts and spreads in the brain.
self talk - Talking to yourself either aloud or silently.
side effects - Any effect of a drug that happens in addition to the main effect. Sometimes these side effects are unpleasant or dangerous.
Simple partial seizure - see focal aware seizure
Sodium Valproate - Also known as Epilim or Valpro. Used in the management of focal and generalised onset seizures. Can also be used to treat mood disorders, particularly mania.
SPECT - Single Photon Emission Computerised Tomography. A diagnostic scan where a radioactive isotope is injected to determine blood flow within the rain. During a seizure there is increased blood flow in the region of the brain where a seizure begins. Inbetween seizures, the bloodflow is reduced in this area. The SPECT is performed on people with epilepsy who are working up for possible surgery for epilepsy. Scanning can help determine the origin of the seizure.
Spike and wave complex - An EEG pattern which is characteristic in some forms of epilepsy.
Status epilepticus - Is a condition where there is a prolonged seizure or repeated seizures without regaining consciousness for 30 mins or more. They can be convulsive or non-convulsive and can be life-threatening.
Stigma - A mark, condition or behaviour that is not generally accepted as the norm and often rejected or shunned by society.
Stimulant - A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
Strategies - A symptom is as any feature (e.g. pain, headache) which is noticed by the person experiencing them. It is not usually observable by others.
Sturge-Weber Syndrome - is a congenital abnormality typically involving a facial birthmark (called a port wine stain or angioma) and a leptomeningeal angioma (or birthmark on the brain). Neurological symptoms can include seizures, developmental delay or intellectual disability, weakening of one side of the body and visual deficits. The brain involvement is mostly on one side but can also be on both sides of the brain. Seizures can be severe and difficult to control.
Sustained - continuing for a lengthy period without interruption