Introducing the Epilepsy Technology Guide

Living with epilepsy can bring many questions and worries, especially around safety, living alone with epilepsy and managing seizures day-to-day. Some people worry about having a seizure while alone, or during the night. Others want better ways to track their seizures, medication or triggers, or to be able to share information with their healthcare team. If this is you, you’re not alone.

Living with epilepsy can feel isolating, but many people face similar questions and concerns. Technology won’t be the answer for everyone, but having clear, trusted information can help you feel more confident in exploring your options.

Technology can’t prevent seizures, but it can play an important role in helping people feel safer, more confident and supported. But, with so many options available it can be difficult to know what will be useful, safe and right for you. The Epilepsy Technology Guide has been developed to help make sense of what is out there and provides lots of information on aids that can help people living with epilepsy.

Whether you are exploring ways to monitor seizures at night, considering whether a seizure alarm could be helpful, or looking for ways help manage your epilepsy day-to-day, the Guide brings this technology together in one place.

This page explores the different types of health technology listed in the guide, who they might be helpful for, and how to compare your options.

Why is technology helpful for people living with epilepsy?

If you have epilepsy, your seizures can put you at greater risk of accidents or injuries and you may worry about keeping safe, especially if you:

• Live alone
• Have seizures during sleep
• Experience falls or loss of awareness
• Want reassurance for partners, family members or carers

As well as accidents and injuries, if you have epilepsy, you can also be at risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). It’s normal to find this worrying, and many people feel anxious when they first learn about SUDEP. There are lots of things you can do to reduce your risk of SUDEP. You can find out more about SUDEP on our information page.

Some technology can help provide reassurance by alerting others or monitoring physical signs at the onset or during seizures.

Technology can also help by:

• Recording seizure activity
• Tracking triggers
• Storing data such as heart rate or movement during seizures
• Providing information about epilepsy first aid
• Supporting medication reminders and day-to-day management

Used in the right way, technology can help you feel more informed and better prepared. It can help you be more confident in advocating for your health by speaking up for your needs in healthcare appointments.

What are the limitations of epilepsy technology?

It’s important to have realistic expectations about what technology can and can’t do, so you can make informed choices.

Epilepsy-related technology:

• Cannot prevent seizures
• May not detect every seizure
• May work better for some seizure types than others
• Can sometimes send false alarms

For this reason, technology should be seen as one part of managing epilepsy, not a replacement for medical care.

Some epilepsy technologies are CE marked as a medical device. The medical device CE mark indicates compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations, and means that the device is regulated through the Medicines and Health Regulation Authority (MHRA).

Not all technology has this accreditation, but the Technology Guide can help you find the ones that do. You can find out more information about CE marking on the Government website.

What are the different types of technology that can help people with epilepsy?

What are wearable seizure alarms?

Wearable seizure alarms and monitors are devices often worn on the wrist or body, sometimes using a smartwatch, and are designed to be worn as part of day-to-day life with epilepsy. They aim to detect certain types of seizures and send an alert if one occurs.

These devices may detect seizures by monitoring:

• Irregular movement
• Changes in heart rate
• Other physiological signals such as oxygen levels

This type of technology may be helpful if you:

• Live alone with epilepsy
• Want alerts sent to a carer or family member
• Have seizures during the day as well as at night
• Want to record seizure information over time

Some devices link to a smartphone app, allowing you to store and share seizure data with your healthcare professional.

When comparing wearable seizure monitors, the Technology Guide provides information on:

• Which seizure types the device is designed to detect
• Whether it sounds an alarm or sends alerts
• Whether it detects falls
• Whether it links to an app
• Whether it is suitable for children
• Whether it is CE marked

What are bed monitors and alarms?

Bed monitors are designed to monitor seizures at night and during sleep. They are often placed under or near the mattress and detect seizure activity through movement or sound.

Some devices are also able to:

• Detect whether someone is still in bed
• Connect with pagers or nurse call systems
• Alert another person immediately if a seizure is detected.

This type of technology may be helpful if you:

• Have seizures during sleep
• Worry about having a seizure at night
• Live with a partner, family member or carer who could respond to an alert

You can find out more about sleep seizures on our information page.

When comparing bed monitors, the Technology Guide provides information on whether the devices:

• Detect movement associated with a seizure
• Detect whether the bed is occupied
• Detect sound associated with a seizure
• Sounds an alarm or sends an alert
• Are suitable for children
• Are CE marked

What are anti-suffocation pillows?

Anti-suffocation pillows are designed to reduce the risk of breathing difficulties during a seizure at night. They use specialist materials that allow air to pass through more easily than standard pillows. There is not currently enough research to prove that they are safer than normal pillows or that they can reduce the risk of SUDEP.

This type of aid may be helpful if you:

• Have seizures at night and during sleep
• Feel anxious about night-time safety

When comparing anti-suffocation pillows, the Technology Guide provides information on whether the devices:

• Are suitable for adults
• Are suitable for children
• Are CE marked

What apps can help manage epilepsy?

Apps can support many aspects of day-to-day epilepsy management. There are a range of apps in the Technology Guide that focus on:

• Medication reminders
• Seizure diaries/tracking
• Trigger monitoring
• Seizure or fall detection via integration with a smartwatch
• Epilepsy first aid

Apps may be helpful if you want to:

• Keep track of seizures over time
• Manage medication more easily
• Share information with your healthcare team
• Use your smartphone or smartwatch as part of your care

When comparing epilepsy apps, the Technology Guide provides information on whether the apps:

• Track seizures or medication
• Integrates with wearable devices
• Send alerts or shares location
• Availability on iOS or Android