Epilepsy and learning disabilities

Introduction

These web pages are for anyone who cares for someone with epilepsy and learning disabilities. It looks briefly at what it means to have a learning disability and how learning disabilities and epilepsy might be linked. It also looks at diagnosing and treating epilepsy and how someone who has epilepsy and learning disabilities can get the best care.

In this section

• The meaning and causes of learning disabilities 
• The link between learning disabilities and epilepsy 
• Diagnosing epilepsy in people with learning disabilities
• Meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities (England and Scotland)
• Treatment of seizures 
• Emergency treatment for seizures that last a long time
• Consent for emergency treatment
• Other information/resources for people with learning disabilities
• Publications/DVDs for people with learning disabilities 

Acknowledgments
Epilepsy Action would like to thank Prof M Kerr, Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, UK, for checking this information.

Also, thanks to Mencap, who provided information about the causes of learning disabilities.