There are various kinds of epilepsy. Sensory epilepsy is a type of focal epilepsy that may not or may be accompanied by seizures. A characteristic of sensory epilepsy is disturbance of sensation of various types that are let out in spasms or paroxysms. In a sensory epilepsy attack the activity of cerebrum is hindered or disturbed.
Because of this, the patient displays signs and symptoms like sensing or feeling a special kind of phenomenon involving the senses which is medically known as somatosensory phenomenon, the twitching of limbs, and in disturbance or hindrance of complicated mental activities that are of a focal type. It is also known as cortical epilepsy.
Sensory simple partial seizures can occur quite a few times per day and the period for which it lasts is usually 30 seconds to 10 seconds. Patients have reported numbness and mild pain which can magnify into an overwhelming pain and the curious thing is that it has generally been observed to begin in the same general area of the patient’s face. It is accompanied by twitching and the patient often feels that he is drawing closer to a grand mal seizure.
Sensory simple partial seizures can also occur at night when you are sleeping and as a result, patients who have had such sensory seizures in their sleeps are often afraid to go to sleep. Some patients however experience sensory simple partial seizures in day time as well. Studies have shown that memory loss and fear are some of the symptoms of sensory partial seizures.
Although sensory epilepsy cannot be cured, it can be effectively kept under control through medication and drugs like Tegretol and Lamictal and Vagus Nerve Stimulator. If medications fail to regulate the sensory seizures, you have to opt for surgery.
Some more symptoms of sensory epilepsy are sensory illusions, illusions and hallucinations regarding taste, smell, vision, touch etc, crawling sensation, tingling, and numbness. The seizures will start in one part or portion of the body and radiate out to other parts. In case of memory loss, as reported by some patients, the sensory seizure will be referred to as complex partial sensory seizure.