Age of the child Permitted activities should be age appropriate for any child, matched to temperament and level of understanding. Seizures that do not cause loss of consciousness or that occur only during sleep require few changes in lifestyle. In contract, seizures associated with impaired consciousness place children at higher risk of injuries. Seizure frequency Children with infrequent seizures may not need any restrictions. On the other hand, children who have very frequent absence, myoclonic, atonic, or tonic seizures, and in those with newly diagnosed epilepsy, appropriate restrictions are required until adequate seizure control has been established.
Some children have seizures only during sleep, a time when they are usually confined in soft places.
Others have seizures that are provoked by flickering light, television, or video screen. Such circumstances may be avoidable, or their import may be limited, by having the child use sunglasses or close one eye. Occasionally postictal states will be prolonged and are a source of concern. The ability of the child to take AEDs regularly, and the responsibility for doing so, are also significant factors, particularly in adolescents and in families who cannot afford to purchase medication regularly. The presence of an additional diagnosis, such as a physical or mental handicap, may also be a confounding factor in determining the need for limitations.