Depending on the type of epilepsy your child has, you may want to consider putting safeguards in your home in case of falls or seizures.
For the young child, this can include things like carpeting on the floor, getting rid of furniture with sharp corners or glass tops, and gates at the top of stairs. In case of frequent and sudden seizures you may consider a special helmet to protect his head.
For the older child, you can consider safeguards such as handrails on staircases and cushioning or eliminating sharp edges in the rooms. More importantly, you can teach him about potential dangers, such as stairs, being near a stove, and carrying hot drinks, and how to do things in a safe way.
Most importantly, your child or adolescent should always take a shower and avoid baths if possible. If a child requires bathing in a tub, he should be supervised and never left on his own, no matter how old he is. Shower chairs are helpful if there is a risk of your child falling with a seizure. It is important, while ensuring safety, to respect your adolescent’s need for privacy while taking a shower. Negotiate with your teen about how to manage concerns about his safety while respecting his privacy. For example, it might be practical to place a baby monitor
in the bathroom during the shower, rather than standing outside the door of the bathroom or having someone sit next to the shower. If there is a risk of your child having a seizure while taking a shower, he should never lock the door.
The epilepsy care team can advise you and your child on other aspects of safeguarding your home, as well as resources to assess home safety and safeguards. For example, if you live in Ontario, you can contact your local
Community Care Access Centre (CCAC). These centres have occupational therapists who will come out and do a home safety assessment. Consult the epilepsy team about similar resources in your province.
How will I know if my child has a seizure at night?
Some forms of epilepsy involve nocturnal (night-time) seizures. Most of the time, seizures at night are no more dangerous than seizures during the day, and most children do not have any problems as a result of seizures that occur during the night.
As with any seizure, it is possible for a child to be injured during a nocturnal seizure. Take common-sense precautions: for instance, make sure there are no sharp or potentially dangerous objects near the bed. If a child regularly has convulsive seizures at night, it is also a good idea to remove bedding that could cause problems with breathing, such as large pillows. If your child has all or most of her seizures at night, discuss the timing of her medication with her doctor.
Some parents sleep with their children so they will know if their child has a seizure at night. This is often reassuring for parents in the short term. In the long term both you and your child will eventually feel the need for some privacy. Other options are:
- Use a baby
monitor
.
- Attach a noise device, such as a bell, to your younger child or infant at night. It will alert you to any unusual movements.
- Place the child’s bed next to a wall beside your room. This will help you to hear any unusual movement or activity.
- In the morning, look for signs that your child may have had a seizure, such as unusual fatigue or bedwetting.
Seizure monitors
Seizure monitoring systems are specially designed to sound an alarm if a person has a seizure. These systems are relatively new; they have been used in Great Britain and Australia and have recently been introduced to Canada. We are still learning about their benefits and drawbacks.
The alarm can sound remotely in your room, signalling that your child is having a seizure. Seizure monitors may check for one or more of the following:
-
movement spasms, using a spasm detector, with motion sensors connected to the mattress
-
vocal sounds, using a receiver and speaker, similar to a baby monitor
-
unusual breathing patterns or pauses in breathing, using a sensor connected to the mattress
-
drooling, vomiting, or urinating, using sensors on the pillow or a moisture sensitive sheet
-
wandering, using pressure sensitive floor pads or a pressure sensitive mattress
It is possible to combine several sensors in order to monitor
many possible symptoms.
Note that no sensor system is perfect; there is always the potential for "false positives," where the alarm sounds but the child is not having a seizure, or "false negatives," where the child is having a seizure but the alarm does not sound. Most parents of children with epilepsy do not find it necessary to use seizure monitors.
You can get more information about seizure monitors from epilepsy associations such as Epilepsy Ontario.