How Do You Explain Epilepsy To Children?
Epilepsy can be a very scary disease; the thought that at any moment in time the person with epilepsy can experience a seizure is frightening, but especially so for children. Whether your child suffers from seizures, or another family member they are close to does, an epileptic event can be traumatizing to a child. Knowing how to explain this disease properly to a child will help to lessen his fears and keep him from being paranoid about what the disease is and what causes it. Explain to the child that epilepsy is a disease of the brain where the electrical signals can fire off in a wrong or an unexpected way and cause a break in communication with the nerve cells. This results in body spasms or reactions called seizures. If the epilepsy sufferer is a child, tell them that about two-thirds of children who suffer from epilepsy grow out of it and lead perfectly normal lives. Tell your child that epilepsy is not contagious, it does not mean the person is mentally ill, usually does not get
