As one of 40 different types of epilepsy, absence seizures currently affect around 10,000 children in the UK. Unfortunately few children receive the prompt diagnosis and treatment they need simply because these momentary black outs, which can happen between 50 and 200 times a day, are often mistaken for daydreaming.
We asked over 500 children, young people and their parents affected by absence seizures about their personal experiences, and the results were staggering.
On average children and young people with absence seizures waited over a year and a half before being diagnosed. Even after a formal diagnosis one third were unhappy with the support on offer at school, college or university. As a direct result, more than 4 in 5 children and young people with absence seizures fall behind in the classroom.
Among the most common issues faced by children and young people with absence seizures, our survey revealed:
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81% struggle to keep up in the classroom
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60% have trouble taking part in sports and other outdoor activities
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55% avoid social situations
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46% are made to feel embarrassed by their classmates
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41% are made to feel embarrassed by teachers and other staff
Even something most young people would take for granted like getting to school holds real dangers for those with absence seizures – as more than two thirds of children and young people aged 12 or above are scared to cross the road alone.
