Introduction
Reflex epilepsies are rare. As the name suggests, they are epilepsies where some, or all, epileptic seizures happen as a result of a specific trigger.
Triggers can be thought of as external, for example looking at flashing or flickering lights or hearing specific music. Or they can be internal, for example thinking hard about something in particular.
Different types of reflex epilepsies
Photosensitive epilepsy
Photosensitive epilepsy is one of the most common reflex epilepsies. It affects around three in every 100 people with epilepsy. Photosensitive epilepsy is a type of epilepsy where flickering or flashing lights, and sometimes patterns, trigger seizures.
Epilepsy Action has more information about photosensitive epilepsy.
Reading epilepsy
Reading epilepsy usually starts in the teenage years. In this type of epilepsy, reading triggers brief jerks (usually in the jaw). If you carry on reading when the jerks are happening, you may go on to have a tonic-clonic seizure. Certain types of reading may be more likely to trigger seizures. These include reading aloud, reading complex texts and reading foreign languages.
Epilepsy Action has more information about tonic-clonic seizures.
Hot water epilepsy
Hot water epilepsy is most common in India, where it may be linked to a person’s genes. Less commonly, people outside India may have this type of epilepsy. In hot water epilepsy, seizures are triggered by being in hot water (such as in a bath), or by having hot water quickly thrown over your head or body.
Music induced seizures
Music induced seizures are triggered by hearing a particular musical track or tune. Hearing certain types of music can also trigger seizures.
Other types of reflex epilepsy
There are many other things that can trigger seizures. These include simple things, such as being touched or tapped. They also include more complex things, such as tooth brushing, eating, playing chess, doing mathematical sums, writing, solving puzzles and so on. If you have one of these epilepsies, your seizures are always triggered by the same, specific, thing.
These epilepsies are very rare.
Seizure types
There are many different types of epileptic seizure. Any type of seizure can happen in reflex epilepsy. However, generalised seizures, particularly myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures, are possibly the most common.
Epilepsy Action has more information about seizure types.
Treatment for reflex epilepsy
Epilepsy medicines are the main way of treating epilepsy. Wherever possible, you should try to avoid the thing that triggers your seizures. But if this is difficult, or you also have seizures that don’t have a trigger, you may want to consider taking epilepsy medicines.
Epilepsy Action has more information about epilepsy medicines.
Research into reflex epilepsies
Despite the fact that reflex epilepsies are rare, there is a lot of scientific interest in them. Researchers want to try to find out why a specific activity or stimulus can trigger an epileptic seizure. Research also continues into why certain things can trigger seizures in some people, but not in others.
We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
Our thanks
Epilepsy Action would like to thank Dr K Hamandi, Consultant Neurologist at University Hospital of Wales, for contributing to this information.
Dr K Hamandi has no conflict of interest to declare.
This information has been produced under the terms of The Information Standard.
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Updated October 2012To be reviewed October 2014
Comments: read the 4 comments or add yours
Comments
My son has this type of Epilepsy and it is very rare - so thanks for adding this information as an introduction to this type of epilepsy.
Thank you for your information on Reflex Epilepsy. I finally feel like I have the answer to what is happening to me. My MD and Neurologist have disagreed with me for years. I had no idea there was such a thing as Reflex Epilepsy. I've had seizures since 1961 which were diagnosed as Petit-mal. As I've got older, I've noticed a definite difference in that not as many seizures, but instead, more auras. In BOTH cases, they occur at the very time I either need to have a movement or even let a bit of air. Over the past years it has become extremely evident to me that these are inter-related 100% of the time. I feel a possible aura, it barely starts, I let a bit of air and it releases the aura immediately every time.
I have been on AED's since 1961 (Dilantin and Phenobarb). I cannot take your advice (obviously) where you suggest to "avoid the trigger" as that would really create a problem.
I'm curious if you've ever heard of this type of Reflex Epilepsy before as my doctors seem oblivious to the cause.
Hi Lynne,
Thank you for your posting.
We have heard people say there is a connection between their bowel movement and epilepsy. There is also some research into constipation and urine infections causing more seizures. We haven’t heard of what you experience but as you know, epilepsy is very individual. Reflex epilepsy especially can be rare and very individual. If you haven’t already, you could use our forum to see if others have had similar symptoms or experiences.
Diane
Advice and Information Team
my seizures was from a teenager was grand mall .Since I was take of sodium valproate in 2011 ,I have had my seizures change to partial seizures ( to left arm , from right arm shaking to a point I can shake for 3 hours also violently . which makes my left arm ache also hard to sleep on my right side as my left arm is nervous .I was told was a minor type . of grand mall ) when I went on to Keppra ,then Lamotrigine the seizure are less often also violent . But have made them triggered by heat /cold / waken from a deep sleep suddenly .