Epilepsy Program

Epilepsy is a complex collection of disorders in which abnormal brain activity causes seizures or abrupt and temporary changes in behavior, awareness and/or sensations. Epilepsy is a neurological condition, so it can impact any aspect of brain function.

Because epilepsy is complex, our treatment program takes a multifaceted approach to diagnosis and treatment. We partner with you to make a plan that keeps your unique condition and goals at the center of your treatment.

Diagnosing Epilepsy

Several steps may be involved in accurately diagnosis epilepsy. This typically begins with an examination visit that includes going over your medical and family history. This may also involve blood tests.

Depending on the findings of your exam, you may undergo one or more tests. These diagnostic tests include:

• Neuropsychological testing to check your memory, speech and thinking skills.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure and check your brain wave patterns.
• Imaging, such as CT scan or MRI, to examine any physical changes in your brain.
• WADA testing to help determine language and memory functions in each hemisphere of your brain. 

Epilepsy Treatment Program

The best treatment program for your epilepsy depends on many factors. That’s why we work with you to plan treatment around your unique condition, symptoms, goals and lifestyle. Together we’ll create a plan for getting you the best possible outcome.

That customized treatment program could involve one or more of the following:

Medication management: Prescription medications are one of the first treatment options. Finding the right medication for the most benefit can take some time. Your doctor will work with you to adjust medications and dosages.

Surgery: When medication doesn’t control seizures well, surgery may help. There are several kinds of surgery for epilepsy. Your surgeon will go over your tests and symptoms thoroughly to help you make a decision about the right surgery to benefit your condition most. Options include:

• Focal Resection
  • Temporal Lobe Resection
  • Extratemporal Resection (frontal, parietal, and occipital)
• Lesionectomy
• Multiple Subpial Transections
• Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy
• Anatomical or Functional Hemispherectomy and Hemispherotomy
• Corpus Callosotomy
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery
• Neurostimulation Device Implantations, including
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
  • Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS)
  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Dietary changes: Both children and adults may benefit from specialized diets that have show to reduce seizure activities. These include low-carb diets such as ketogenic diets and the Atkins diet, but it’s very important to plan your diet with your doctor for the safest and best results.

Neurological researchers are always working toward new and better ways of helping epilepsy patients improve their symptoms and regain a more normal life. The Overlake Neuroscience Institute team continually monitors the latest achievements in epilepsy care.

To learn more about the Overlake Epilepsy Program, call us at (425) 635-6560.