Is a seizure a disability?

If you suffer from the effects of a seizure disorder you may qualify for disability benefits. The Social Security Administration has specific language and conditions related to qualifying for benefits while experiencing symptoms of seizure disorders such as epilepsy.


Do seizures qualify you for disability?

Even when on medication people with epilepsy can experience seizures that leave the worn out and unable to function for days. If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy and you can't work and you expect to be unable to work for at least 12 months you can file a claim for Social Security disability benefits.

What type of seizures qualify for disability?

To get disability with epilepsy, you must show that you suffer daytime seizures that cause you to lose consciousness or convulse or have nighttime seizures that cause severe daytime complications, such as difficulty staying awake, physical movement coordination, or thinking clearly.


Are seizures a physical disability?

The Social Security Administration considers epilepsy to be a qualifying condition for disability benefits. This means that if you've been diagnosed with epilepsy and are unable to work for an extended period of time, you have a high chance of being granted benefits.

Can you get long term disability for seizures?

Proving Epilepsy As A Disability. To get approved for long term disability, your insurance company will require proof of your condition, symptoms, and impact on your job performance. This evidence can come in a few forms: proof of diagnosis; additional testing; proof of appropriate treatment; and personal documentation ...


If I have Seizures, Can I get Disability?



Do seizures permanently damage brain?

Although scientists and clinicians have long known that prolonged seizures, a condition referred to as "status epilepticus," kill brain cells, surprisingly little scientific evidence exists to support the notion that individual seizures do damage.

Do seizures have permanent damage?

A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death.

How does seizures limit your ability to work?

While seizures do not necessarily prevent people from performing work-related tasks, a seizure occurring at the wrong time can turn into a serious hazard for you or the coworkers around you. Stress is often a common cause of seizures and even office workers that do not do much physical labor can often suffer from them.


How do you prove a seizure?

How to tell you've had a seizure
  1. Loss of consciousness or awareness.
  2. Involuntary movement of any kind. ...
  3. Muscle stiffness, usually in the back, arms, and legs. ...
  4. Loss of muscle control, essentially making it impossible to control your muscles at all and also likely to cause falling.


What is a good job for someone with epilepsy?

Getting a job as an animal trainer is one of the ideal jobs available for epilepsy patients. It's a stress-free job that pays well enough, and it doesn't pose a risk. Plus, some animals are trained to help people suffering from epilepsy and other similar conditions.

What jobs can you not do with epilepsy?

If you have seizures, you may not be able to do jobs that risk your safety or the safety of other people.
...
These include:
  • jobs that involve driving.
  • working at heights, near open water or fire.
  • working with unguarded machinery.


Do seizures qualify for SSI?

To qualify for either SSI or SSDI, epileptic seizures have to occur regularly (see below). Because epilepsy is often controlled with medication, it is not always a disabling illness. Social Security examiners will want to see evidence that your condition is disabling even though you are taking your medication.

What problems can seizures cause?

Some people have nausea or unusual feelings that are difficult to describe. These seizures may also result in difficulty speaking, involuntary jerking of a body part, such as an arm or a leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and seeing flashing lights.

Can you still work if you have seizures?

Many people with epilepsy are able to work and successfully carry out their job duties. Having occasional (or even fairly frequent) seizures may make your job hunt more challenging but not impossible. The better qualified you are for a position, the better your chances of success.


What are the 4 types of seizures?

Tonic: Muscles in the body become stiff. Atonic: Muscles in the body relax. Myoclonic: Short jerking in parts of the body. Clonic: Periods of shaking or jerking parts on the body.

How long is considered seizure free?

As a general rule, adult patients should have been seizure-free for at least two years before discontinuation is considered. In children with epilepsy where the prognosis is known to be good, discontinuation may be considered earlier.

Can an MRI tell if you had a seizure?

People sometimes think that imaging tests such as an EEG, CT scan or an MRI will determine that they have had a seizure. However, information from tests alone can't always confirm that a seizure has occurred, or that the person has epilepsy.


Will an EEG show past seizures?

An EEG can usually show if you are having a seizure at the time of the test, but it can't show what happens to your brain at any other time. So even though your test results might not show any unusual activity it does not rule out having epilepsy.

What is the main cause of a seizure?

Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy.

Do seizures reset your brain?

Epileptic seizures typically reset the pre-ictal dynamical entrainment and lead to the disentrainment of dynamics of the focus from the rest of the brain. (When ES do not reset the established pathology in brain's dynamics, cluster of seizures and/or status epilepticus may result [2].)


How long does it take your brain to recover from a seizure?

Some people recover immediately while others may take minutes to hours to feel like their usual self. The type of seizure, as well as what part of the brain the seizure impacts, affects the recovery period – how long it may last and what may occur during it.

Can seizures change your personality?

Many people with epilepsy experience disagreeable changes in their emotions, and the link between mood disorders and epilepsy has been observed for more than 2,000 years. While this link has been noticed for many years, the relationship between seizures and mood disorders has not been well understood until recently.

What foods should epileptics avoid?

white bread; non-wholegrain cereals; biscuits and cakes; honey; high-sugar drinks and foods; fruit juices; chips; mashed potatoes; parsnips; dates and watermelon. In general, processed or overcooked foods and over-ripe fruits.


What are the long term effects of seizures?

Emotional health issues. People with seizures are more likely to have psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety. Problems may be a result of difficulties dealing with the condition itself as well as medication side effects.

Can you live full life with seizures?

Most people with epilepsy live a full life. However, the risk of early death is higher for some. We know that the best possible seizure control and living safely can reduce the risk of epilepsy-related death.
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