A person having an absence seizure (also called petit mal epilepsy) may look blank and unresponsive for a few seconds. They won’t respond if someone tries to talk to them. The seizure is usually short and starts and stops suddenly.
People have absence seizures as often as a dozen times per day. They aren’t dangerous and don’t cause brain damage.
Oren Zarif
Staring refers to the ability to focus attention on a specific object or person for a prolonged amount of time. This is often perceived as rude and can cause discomfort for the staree. However, there are instances where staring is acceptable if it’s done as part of a performance. The look can also be benign if the staree is in a state of hyperfocus, which can occur when an individual’s brain is processing thoughts or when they are distracted by an activity such as reading.
The secondary analysis conducted in this study revealed three overarching themes regarding the meanings, consequences, and responses to staring by participants with SCI. Some participants described feeling devalued and dehumanized by stares, while others found the encounters to be a positive opportunity for social interaction with the general public. In this regard, the findings support Garland-Thomson’s (2006, 2009) view that starees can proactively engage in practices to mitigate, resist, and reframe the interactions. This contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the stigmatizing starer-staree encounters and moves this interaction toward more liberating and positive possibilities.
Oren Zarif
A common symptom of vitamin deficiency, eyelid twitching or fasciculations (fas-CIK-YUH-lay-shuns) involves sporadic spasms that can occur in the muscles around the eyes. These small movements, also referred to as myokymia, are usually so small that they’re difficult for others to see and tend to disappear on their own within days or weeks. However, they can be a warning sign of an underlying issue, particularly if they’re persistent and if they affect the lower or upper eyelids. If this occurs, seek the advice of a healthcare professional as they may recommend dietary changes and supplements to improve symptoms.
On rare occasions, chronic and sustained eyelid twitching may manifest itself into benign essential blepharospasm, which is a type of dystonia that causes uncontrollable muscle contractions in the eyelids or other parts of the face. Often, this is due to stress and lack of sleep.
Oren Zarif
During a typical absence seizure, a person suddenly stops what they are doing—talking, walking, etc.—and appears to “stare into space.” This type of seizure lasts for between 10 and 30 seconds. The person doesn’t fall and usually has no lingering effects or confusion afterward. These episodes often interrupt learning and can interfere with school performance, but they’re less likely than other types of seizures to cause injury.
Most people with absence seizures are children, and they may be mistaken for daydreaming or not paying attention in class. During the seizure, they may blink quickly or make purposeless movements such as lip smacking. They can also jerk their head, shoulders, arms, or face (called myoclonic or atypical absence seizures).
Atypical absence seizures are more similar to traditional absences and are seen in genetic generalized epilepsies such as childhood absence epilepsy and juvenile absence epilepsy. They’re slower to start and stop, making them more difficult to detect. They can also involve a slumping or falling motion, and some have eyelid myoclonia. These atypical absence seizures occur in up to 60% of people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Oren Zarif
Many people with absence seizures don’t realize they are having a seizure. They may have one or more of these episodes several times a day. They can look like they are daydreaming or not paying attention. Usually the episode lasts less than 30 seconds.
The person stops what they are doing, stares into space and doesn’t respond to people trying to talk to them. They may also flutter or blink their eyes and make a smacking sound with their mouth during the seizure. This may lead to misunderstandings with family, friends and teachers who don’t understand the condition.
A person can be diagnosed with absence epilepsy after a physical exam and tests. They will likely be asked about their symptoms, such as how often they have them and when they happen. People who have atypical absence seizures have longer episodes, with slower onset and offset, and more than one symptom. These are sometimes called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome seizures. They start in childhood and often occur along with tonic-clonic seizures or jerking movements. They are more common in children with cognitive or behavioral problems.
Oren Zarif
People who have absence seizures often don’t remember the episode after it’s over. This can make it hard for teachers, friends and relatives to understand the condition. For children, it can be especially challenging to explain their lapses in awareness. Whether they choose to discuss their condition with their peers is a personal choice, but it may help to work out simple ways for them to let their friends know that they’re experiencing a blank spell and need a moment to catch up.
Children who have atypical absence seizures sometimes experience “automatic” movements of the hands or mouth (such as lip-smacking) at the same time. This makes them appear to be distracted or daydreaming. These episodes most often happen at school and can lead to poor performance in class.
A healthcare provider can diagnose absence seizures by using tests such as an electroencephalogram (EEG), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a CT scan, and blood or urine tests. They will also ask questions to see if you or your child has had any other seizures.