School

The impact of epilepsy on school life varies from child to child.
This depends on several factors, such as:

• how well the seizures are controlled,
• whether epilepsy affects thinking and learning,
• motor and social skills,
• the child’s self-esteem,
• and the level of support from their environment.

When epilepsy is difficult to control with medication or other treatments, learning and behavioral challenges are more common.

Cognitive skills

Children with epilepsy sometimes have a slightly higher risk of difficulties with thinking and learning. This can show up in areas such as attention, memory, work pace, and learning ability. In some cases, epilepsy may also affect brain areas that are important for reading, learning, and spelling. A small number of children may also have a learning difficulty that is not directly related to epilepsy.

It’s important to know that being different from the average does not automatically mean a child will have problems at school. Many children with epilepsy function completely within normal expectations.

Epileptic seizures

How a child functions at school often depends on the number and severity of their seizures.

After a prolonged convulsive seizure, a child may feel less well for several days, sometimes even weeks, and may not perform as well at school. It’s important for teachers to know this, especially if a test is scheduled shortly after a seizure.

Types of seizures

Epileptic seizures can look very different. We usually distinguish between more obvious and less obvious seizures:

• Convulsive seizures are the “big” seizures with strong body jerks, and the child usually loses consciousness.
• Absence seizures are much more subtle. The child stares for a few seconds and does not take in new information during that time.

Absence seizures can especially affect learning. Because the brain does not process information during these brief moments, the learning process can be disrupted. A sudden drop in school performance in a child who often seems to “daydream” in class may be linked to new or poorly controlled absence epilepsy.

Important to know: daydreaming or staring also occurs in children with attention difficulties, such as ADHD, without epilepsy.

Medication for epilepsy

Medicines used to treat epilepsy can sometimes affect how a child thinks or behaves. These effects are usually subtle, such as reduced concentration or tiredness. It’s important to know that medication is not the cause of major learning problems. However, the impact can be greater if a child needs several medications at the same time.

Support at school

It is very important that the school and teachers know that a child has epilepsy. Discuss together:

• the type of seizures the child has,
• possible triggers,
• and the seizure protocol (a step-by-step plan for what to do during a seizure).

This helps everyone respond appropriately and take into account the effects of a seizure. Sometimes a child may need to stay home unexpectedly after a seizure, or medication may affect learning.

When epilepsy is hard to control, learning and behavioral difficulties are more common. Extra support may then be needed, such as a special needs teacher or help from the school’s support services.

Children need time to develop at their own pace. That’s why it’s a good idea to meet with parents and teachers at the start of each school year to create an individual plan for the child.

School activities

Children with epilepsy should be able to take part in all school activities, such as sports, swimming, field trips, and school camps. These activities are not only fun and socially important, but also part of a healthy lifestyle.

Most sports are possible, but extra supervision is recommended for activities like swimming or cycling in traffic. Trips and camps should be encouraged. Keep in mind that medication is sometimes forgotten during these events, and children may be more excited and sleep less, which can increase the risk of seizures. However, this should never be a reason to exclude a child from participating.

Special education

Regular education often focuses on independent work, where concentration and work pace are important. Children with epilepsy are usually motivated and capable, but may struggle with concentration, memory, or work speed, which can make school more challenging.

Some children also have other developmental difficulties and may benefit from an adapted learning path. Special education often offers more flexibility: smaller groups, multidisciplinary teams, and tailored approaches. For children with epilepsy that is hard to treat, this can provide a more supportive environment where they can learn at their own pace.

A move to special education is always done together with the school’s support services. Based on the child’s needs, the best option is chosen. Sometimes a diagnosis from a multidisciplinary team, including a child psychiatrist, is required.

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Information for teachers