As a small child I had an epileptic attack once (and never again after that). Could this be linked to Asperger's/Autism in any way?
Sorry if this has been discussed before....I'm still trying to find 'evidence' that I have Asperger's (kinda obsessed by it now, lol), mainly because my friends and people around me still doubt I have it. Probably because I hide a lot of stuff so well, like my tics, and I'm pretty social around people I know well...
Apparently some people believe that epileptic seizures and AS are related. Personally, I was very surprised when I first heard about the possible connection. I've never had a seizure in my life.
It is apparantly more common in autistics.
I don't have epilepsy though.
I know the feeling of becoming obssesed with finding evidence about AS.
I have epilepsy myself, though the attacks didn't really start until I was 13, on 13/12/95 to be precise, my oldest brother's birthday, I don't think it was known by my mother that I was an aspie at the time, I never have linked the epilepsy and AS though
i did find a bit of a link. the some movement during one onf my friend siezure reminded me very much of a set of stims. the diffence they have no control over it.
I think there is a slightly higher rate of epilepsy among autistic people, so it may be vaguely connected.
I've never had a seizure though.
I had epilepsy in my teens and was put on prescription medication. In my twenties I stopped my medication (as I didn’t want to be on drugs all my life, if I could help it).
After coming off my medication I haven't had any more seizures. My doctor thinks my epilepsy was caused by increased levels of teenage hormones (possible I suppose).
There are studies that 1 in 4 autistics will have some form of seizure activity by the time they hit puberty I think. My son has Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Autism, myself I've had some wierd episodes but not sure they are linked to epilepsy.
There are studies that 1 in 4 autistics will have some form of seizure activity by the time they hit puberty I think.
Interesting, I may have had some form of seizure at a very young age, but would need to speak to my mum about that, and, as I said, I was 13 when my seizures started, so that may be correct about 1in 4 autistics having some form of seizure activity by puberty
myself I've had some wierd episodes but not sure they are linked to epilepsy.
What sort of weird episodes and did you ever go to the doctor about it? It could have been epilepsy related but then again maybe not, just would depend on what these weird episodes were
I used to have epileptic seizures quite often as a child. I actually enjoyed them, mad sensations. Anyways, after one nasty seizure were I blacked out I was brought to a GP who said it could be a heart murmur, although turns out that wasn't the case.
And for some reason, they stopped completely after I hit puberty. Although I had one about a year back, but there were a lot of drugs involved. So I think the condition is still there, it's certainly not epilepsy, however, I could be prone to these epileptic seizures under the right conditions.
As seizures have a differential diagnosis, it is common for patients to be simultaneously investigated for cardiac and endocrine causes.
Other causes typically considered are syncope and cardiac arrhythmias, and occasionally panic attacks and cataplexy. For more information, see non-epileptic seizures.
Cardiac arrhytmia was what I got diagnosed.
Well I have convulsive syncopes caused by orthostatic hypotension
and I have myclonic convulsions and simple partial seizures almost constantly.
My cousin and I were both a little "weird" and had some trouble making friends. However, she was more social than I. Apparently, we just blossomed when we were together, and even spoke in a made-up language. I have Asperger's, she has Epilepsy. It has never suprised me to hear there may be a link. In fact, sometimes I think my mood swings may be some sort of seizure causing emotional problems, rather than physical ones. Like, a seizure in a different part of the brain, or something. Reading that Celexa can trigger latent epilepsy in some people, and connecting that with the fact that my "blackouts" didn't really start until after my stint with Celexa has encouraged this belief. Also, my mood swings are like they were in Jr. High school since taking Celexa.
Van Gogh had epilepsy and it is speculated by his biographies that he had Asperger's as well (I'm reading Lust For Life again and now that I know about AS I can find a lot of traits in his behaviour).
They're both somehow related to an abnormality in neurodevelopment, I guess there could be some connection.
(Sorry for bad English).