The Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey is a team of board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons who provide expert care for a variety of pediatric neurological conditions, including temporal lobe epilepsy. Our team uses advanced diagnostic tools and innovative treatment techniques to ensure the best outcomes for your child.
The Physical Impact
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common forms of epilepsy, involving the temporal lobes of the brain. The temporal lobes are responsible for functions such as memory, language, and emotional processing, and seizures originating from this area can severely impact these functions. TLE can present with focal seizures, which often begin on one side of the brain and may spread to other areas. For many children, these seizures can be difficult to control with medications, and the disorder can disrupt normal life, including school performance and social interactions.
How Common Is This Condition?
Temporal lobe epilepsy is one of the most prevalent forms of epilepsy in both children and adults. It accounts for about 30-40% of all cases of epilepsy in adults and is increasingly recognized in children as well. While it is not as common as generalized epilepsy syndromes, temporal lobe epilepsy can significantly affect a child's development and quality of life if not managed properly.
Risk Factors:
- Brain injury or trauma: Previous head injuries, including concussions or other brain trauma, can increase the risk of developing TLE.
- Brain malformations: Abnormal brain development or structural changes in the temporal lobes may predispose an individual to seizures.
- Infections or tumors: Conditions such as encephalitis, meningitis, or brain tumors can cause damage to the temporal lobes, leading to epilepsy.
- Genetic factors: In some cases, temporal lobe epilepsy can have a genetic component, although it is less commonly inherited.
- Family history: A family history of epilepsy or other neurological disorders may increase the likelihood of developing TLE.
Signs and Symptoms
Children with temporal lobe epilepsy may experience a variety of seizure types, including:
- Focal Seizures: These seizures originate in one part of the brain and may or may not spread. Symptoms can include staring, lip-smacking, or repetitive hand movements.
- Automatisms: Repetitive behaviors such as chewing, swallowing, or picking at clothing.
- Auras: A feeling or sensation that precedes a seizure, often described as a strange taste, smell, or visual disturbance.
- Memory and cognitive impairments: Difficulty with learning, remembering, or concentrating due to seizure activity affecting the temporal lobes.
- Emotional changes: Seizures originating in the temporal lobes can cause emotional or behavioral changes, including fear, anxiety, or sudden anger.
- Postictal confusion: After a seizure, children may experience confusion, tiredness, or difficulty communicating.
How We Diagnose
At the Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey, diagnosing temporal lobe epilepsy involves a detailed evaluation of your child's medical history, seizure patterns, and neurological function. Our diagnostic steps often include:
- EEG (Electroencephalogram): This test records the electrical activity of the brain, allowing us to detect abnormal patterns associated with temporal lobe seizures.
- MRI or CT Scans: These imaging studies help identify any structural abnormalities in the temporal lobes, such as hippocampal sclerosis or other lesions, that could contribute to seizures.
- Neuropsychological Evaluations: Cognitive testing to assess memory, learning, and behavior, which can be affected by seizures originating in the temporal lobes.
- Detailed Clinical History: A review of seizure onset, triggers, frequency, and the presence of auras or other symptoms is crucial in confirming the diagnosis.
Through this comprehensive approach, we can confirm a diagnosis of temporal lobe epilepsy and design an individualized treatment plan tailored to your child's specific needs.
Treatment Options
Managing temporal lobe epilepsy typically involves a combination of medications and, in some cases, surgical intervention. Our goal is to control seizures, improve cognitive and emotional functioning, and enhance your child's quality of life. Treatment options include:
- Anti-Seizure Medications: Often the first line of treatment, these medications are tailored to your child's specific type of seizures and their response to previous treatments.
- Surgical Intervention: For children with intractable seizures that do not respond to medication, surgery may be considered. Options include temporal lobectomy (removal of part of the temporal lobe) or laser ablation to remove or reduce the seizure focus.
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): This device can help control seizures by stimulating the vagus nerve with electrical impulses.
- Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS): A device implanted in the brain to detect and respond to seizure activity, offering another option for those who don't benefit from other treatments.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Keeping a regular sleep schedule, avoiding seizure triggers, and promoting a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the frequency of seizures.
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Cognitive and behavioral therapies can help children manage emotional or cognitive challenges resulting from their seizures.
At the Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey, we take a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to ensure that your child's treatment plan is personalized and effective, addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of living with temporal lobe epilepsy.
Our Commitment to Your Child's Health
“I am neurosurgeon living in New Jersey, board-certified by both the American Board of Neurosurgery (ABNS) and Pediatric Neurosurgery (ABPNS). I specialize in the surgical treatment of complex epilepsy and serve as the Director of the Epilepsy Institute of New Jersey, Chief of Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery at Sanzari Children's Hospital, and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital of NJ, where I provide exceptional care for children with complex neurological conditions. Your child's health and well-being are our top priorities.”
