Characteristic Signs Of Temporal Lobe Seizures

Loss Of Awareness

Loss of awareness sometimes occurs during more serious seizure activity. There are two main types of temporal lobe seizures: those with retained awareness, and those with impaired awareness. When patients retain their awareness, they don't experience any of the lack of cognition or strange movements that occur during an impaired awareness seizure. They'll be able to respond to others and have a general understanding of who they are. But when awareness is lost, patients will look like they're awake, except they'll stare vacantly instead of focusing on anything. They may be unresponsive for between thirty seconds and two minutes. As a general rule, if any seizure lasts longer than five minutes, someone should call an ambulance. But if the patient regularly experiences impaired awareness seizures in the temporal lobe, a normal-length episode doesn't require medical intervention. Rather than calling emergency services, individuals should talk to the patient when they 'wake up' again, explaining what happened and helping with the disorientation.