What are The Symptoms of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?

Temporal lobe epilepsy is the frequent occurrence linked with epilepsy that occurs in the form of partial or location-based attack. Defining temporal lobe epilepsy is simple because the seizure attack begins in the temporal lobe of the brain. Additionally, it is possible for the attack to happen on both the temporal lobes. It is possible for an individual to experience an aura, which states as a warning sign before the occurrence of the seizure. But, an important point to remember here is that, not every individual experience such a situation. In addition to this, temporal lobe epilepsy can cause a simple or complex partial seizure with or without loss of consciousness.

Individual experiencing temporal lobe epilepsy will display the following symptoms:

• Abnormal sensations, which rise slowly and develops a funny feeling
• Development of hallucinations that changes the way the individual sees, smells, and tastes are all symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy
• Sudden surge and development of recalled memories or emotions
• Intense development of feeling that has no role to play at any time.

Apart from these instances, the person experiencing temporal lobe epilepsy may also show motor disturbances and sensory symptoms. Motor disturbances symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy include the following:

• A sudden development of rhythmic muscle contraction towards one side of the face or body
• Behaving abnormally such as slobbering, lip smacking, and chewing for no reason are also symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy
• Abnormal movement of the head, where an individual can witness a sudden force that turns the head or eyes
• Carrying out repetitive actions is also a symptom of temporal lobe epilepsy.

For sensory symptoms, there is an excellent chance that they appear or start in one region and spread to the other. These symptoms include tingling, numbness, and the feeling that the flesh is swarming. When we speak of autonomic symptoms, the individual will suffer from abdominal pain or nausea, rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils, and severe sweating. Depending on the situation of the victim, whether he/she is conscious or not during the occurrence of the attack, one may or may not remember the episode at all. After the completion of the postictal phase, the individual experiences a seizure that can last for a few seconds or several minutes.

There are several ways through which it is possible to diagnose the presence of temporal lobe epilepsy. If you happen to come across a person who is having the seizure for the first time or at the seizure lasts for more than three minutes, call for emergency immediately. If the doctor suspects that the occurrence is due to a seizure disorder, he or she will begin the treatment by asking about head injuries, the presence of infections to the brain in the past, and about trauma.

It is possible for the neurologist to calculate and investigate the occurrence of temporal lobe epilepsy with the help of electroencephalogram, which is capable of detecting the chemical and electrical relay between the brain cells. Additional investigations include MRI scans, CT scans, and x-rays, that will help the doctor to identify the cause of the seizure.

Upon identifying the cause of the temporal lobe epilepsy, the doctor will prescribe oral and the convulsive medicines such as phenytoin, sodium valproate, and carbamazepine. Depending on the severity, the doctor will choose to opt for medication or go ahead with the surgery. In many of the cases, curing temporal lobe seizure is possible only through operation, as it helps in removing the abnormal part of the brain. Therefore, choosing the treatment is dependent on the symptoms expressed by the individual and the severity that one is undergoing.

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