Information and Resources

When you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, if you drive, you need to inform the DVLA. And I would always recommend that you surrender your license to the DVLA. Depending on the type of epilepsy, the individual may not be able to drive for 12 months following their last seizure. Insurance companies will need to be advised that the person has epilepsy. There is no law stating that you have to inform the employer. However, because of health and safety, we would advise that this is discussed.

If it's discussed with the employer, then it means that they can put resources in place to make your working life better. There are many laws and Disability Discrimination Acts that can protect a person with epilepsy and prevent discrimination. People with epilepsy can often carry on their usual life. It depends on the type of epilepsy, the frequency of epilepsy, how epilepsy affects that person and also the treatment for epilepsy. So one individual could be seizure-free on one medication, they are driving, they are working, they are owning their own company, they have got a family and they have got children and life carries on as normal. For other people, epilepsy may impact on the quality of life, it may cause them to forget things, the side effects of the medication could mean that they are uncoordinated, they have got blurred vision, they feel sick, they have got word-finding problems, they are forgetful. For that group of people, carrying on, as usual, may prove difficult and it then means that they may have to make some life changes. It may mean they have to alter their work patterns, it may mean that they have to have somebody remain with them during the day to make sure they're safe.

As for whether somebody with epilepsy can carry on life, as usual, it really does depend on the effect that epilepsy has on their life. In the UK, free prescriptions are available to people with epilepsy, they would require their GP to write the form that enables them to get a medical exemption certificate. There are many benefits available to people, however, this does not depend on epilepsy. It depends on how epilepsy affects the individual and their quality of life.

Further information regarding benefits can be seen in the download section of this course. There are many myths regarding epilepsy, one of which is you should put a wooden spoon in somebody's mouth when they're having a seizure. I would advise that you do not put anything in an individual's mouth for two reasons: One, you may get injured or bitten trying to do it. Two, you may injure the person having a seizure. They could bite part of the wooden spoon and that part of a wooden spoon is in their mouth, which is going to cause them a lot more problems.

Another myth is swallowing the tongue. A person with epilepsy will not swallow their tongue. We do not need to put our fingers anywhere near their mouth to move their tongue. Once the seizure is finished, we put the person in the recovery position so the tongue which has flopped back will flop forward and open the airway. Another myth still believed today by some people and some cultures is that epilepsy can be caught. We can catch epilepsy. That is a myth, it is not a disease, it's a medical condition that alters the electrical impulses in the brain. For some people, if they have a diagnosis of epilepsy, the seizures can be triggered by flashing lights. However, if you do not have a diagnosis of epilepsy, flashing lights are very unlikely to trigger a seizure.

I would always advise that if an individual has epilepsy, that they hold a card or a medical alert bracelet or necklace. For some people with epilepsy, their seizures may look like they are drunk, intoxicated, under the influence of alcohol. And if somebody approaches that individual when they are in that state, they may act out to protect themselves because they are unaware of what is going on. Unfortunately, in some cases, it may be that somebody is diagnosed with being drunk and disorderly rather than having an epileptic seizure. If the individual has information that dictates that they have epilepsy, this may help awareness for the person that finds them, so they get the appropriate treatment sooner rather than later.