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Table of Contents
Symptoms
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A seizure aura is a phenomenon that precedes aseizurein which you have abnormal sensations, feelings, or changes in vision, hearing, taste, or smell. The sensory disturbances can vary from one person to the next, and not everyone withepilepsyhas them.A seizure aura, sometimes described as thepre-ictal stage, is the early part of a seizure that gives way to theictal stagewhenconvulsionsoccur. An aura can last anywhere from a minute to an hour and serves as an early warning sign of a seizure. While you usually cannot abort the seizure once an aura starts, the extra time may allow you to take steps to avoid injury during the seizure.This article explains the signs and symptoms of a seizure aura and what causes it. It also explains how epilepsy is diagnosed and treated with or without aura.A seizre aura can precede a convulsion.Getty Images/Srdjan/PavUnderstanding Seizures: What They Look Like and How to RespondWhat Does a Seizure Aura Feel Like?Seizure auras are not the same for all people, and some people with epilepsy never have them. If you do have seizure aura, they generally involve the same sensations, feelings, or perceptions with every seizure and last more or less the same time.The symptoms of a seizure aura may include:Sudden tiredness or sleepinessLightheadedness, dizziness, or spinning sensationsSudden strong emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, or fearFeeling detached from realityDistorted vision, such as blurring or seeing zigzag linesTingling or unusually hot or cold sensationsStrange smells or tastesMuted hearing or sudden oversensitivity to soundBeeping or ringing in the earsA feeling of deja vuNausea or vomitingDiarrheaFeeling unusually hot or coldTremors of the arms or legsFacial ticsWhat Causes a Seizure Aura?An aura is in essence partial seizure that eventually gives way to a full-blown seizure. A seizure aura is associated with changes in brain activity that alter how you normally experience or perceive things.The symptoms of a seizure aura correspond to the part of the brain where your seizure occurs. For instance:Seizures originating in thetemporal lobe(situated at the base of the skull) can cause auras that involve “psychic” and out-of-body experiences.Seizures originating in thefrontal lobe(the front portion of the brain) can cause auras that trigger physical symptoms or altered moods.Seizures originating in theparietal lobe(located at the top of the brain) can cause auras that involve abnormal sensations.Can You Diagnose a Seizure With Aura?Seizure auras often occur with seizures but can sometimes occur without a seizure. Even if a seizure is partial, it is still considered epilepsy if the seizures are recurrent. As such, the diagnosis for a seizure with aura is no different than for a seizure without aura.The diagnosis of epilepsy typically involves a physical exam and review of your medical history along with:Neurological exam: An in-office test to evaluate your reflexes, coordination, and mental functions (such as the ability to recall words)Electroencephalogram (EEG): A non-invasive diagnostic device that measures electrical activity in the brain with sensors placed on the scalpBrain imaging: Typically involving acomputed tomography (CT)ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)to look for brain abnormalities that might trigger a seizureA Note About EEGsIf you are having a seizure while connected to an EEG, it will show enormous spikes in brain wave activity. If you are not having a seizure, an EEG cannot tell if you have epilepsy or not.How Do You Treat Aura Seizures?In general, a seizure aura is not treated separately from or differently than a seizure. There are no medications specifically used for treating a seizure aura.If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, there are manyantiepileptic medicationsthat can help prevent seizures, including:Dilantin (phenytoin)Keppra (levetiracetam)Lamictal (lamotrigine)Neurontin (gabapentin)PhenobarbitalTegretol (carbamazepine)Trileptal (oxcarbazepine)Valproic acidZonegran (zonisamide)On occasion, it may be possible to abort a seizure with drugs calledbenzodiazepinesif taken at the first signs of an aura. These “rescue drugs” include Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Versed (midazolam).This is not a common strategy as seizures can start well before you have the chance to take the medication. Even so, it may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider if your auras tend to be longer.Everything to Know About Epilepsy Service DogsSummaryA seizure aura is a partial seizure that occurs before a full seizure, manifesting in an array of abnormal physical, sensory, or emotional sensations. Auras serve as a warning sign of an impending seizure with symptoms ranging from tremors, nausea, and lightheadedness to changes in taste, smell, sounds, and visions.Controlling seizures with antiepileptic medications is the best way to avoid seizure auras.
A seizure aura is a phenomenon that precedes aseizurein which you have abnormal sensations, feelings, or changes in vision, hearing, taste, or smell. The sensory disturbances can vary from one person to the next, and not everyone withepilepsyhas them.
A seizure aura, sometimes described as thepre-ictal stage, is the early part of a seizure that gives way to theictal stagewhenconvulsionsoccur. An aura can last anywhere from a minute to an hour and serves as an early warning sign of a seizure. While you usually cannot abort the seizure once an aura starts, the extra time may allow you to take steps to avoid injury during the seizure.
This article explains the signs and symptoms of a seizure aura and what causes it. It also explains how epilepsy is diagnosed and treated with or without aura.
A seizre aura can precede a convulsion.Getty Images/Srdjan/Pav
Understanding Seizures: What They Look Like and How to Respond
What Does a Seizure Aura Feel Like?
Seizure auras are not the same for all people, and some people with epilepsy never have them. If you do have seizure aura, they generally involve the same sensations, feelings, or perceptions with every seizure and last more or less the same time.
The symptoms of a seizure aura may include:
What Causes a Seizure Aura?
An aura is in essence partial seizure that eventually gives way to a full-blown seizure. A seizure aura is associated with changes in brain activity that alter how you normally experience or perceive things.
The symptoms of a seizure aura correspond to the part of the brain where your seizure occurs. For instance:
Can You Diagnose a Seizure With Aura?
Seizure auras often occur with seizures but can sometimes occur without a seizure. Even if a seizure is partial, it is still considered epilepsy if the seizures are recurrent. As such, the diagnosis for a seizure with aura is no different than for a seizure without aura.
The diagnosis of epilepsy typically involves a physical exam and review of your medical history along with:
A Note About EEGsIf you are having a seizure while connected to an EEG, it will show enormous spikes in brain wave activity. If you are not having a seizure, an EEG cannot tell if you have epilepsy or not.
A Note About EEGs
If you are having a seizure while connected to an EEG, it will show enormous spikes in brain wave activity. If you are not having a seizure, an EEG cannot tell if you have epilepsy or not.
How Do You Treat Aura Seizures?
In general, a seizure aura is not treated separately from or differently than a seizure. There are no medications specifically used for treating a seizure aura.
If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, there are manyantiepileptic medicationsthat can help prevent seizures, including:
On occasion, it may be possible to abort a seizure with drugs calledbenzodiazepinesif taken at the first signs of an aura. These “rescue drugs” include Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Versed (midazolam).
This is not a common strategy as seizures can start well before you have the chance to take the medication. Even so, it may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider if your auras tend to be longer.
Everything to Know About Epilepsy Service Dogs
Summary
A seizure aura is a partial seizure that occurs before a full seizure, manifesting in an array of abnormal physical, sensory, or emotional sensations. Auras serve as a warning sign of an impending seizure with symptoms ranging from tremors, nausea, and lightheadedness to changes in taste, smell, sounds, and visions.
Controlling seizures with antiepileptic medications is the best way to avoid seizure auras.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Patel P, Ferastraoaru V, Gold D, Lipnick A, Jehle R, Haut SR.Clinical characterization of the pre-ictal state in the pediatric population: A caretaker’s perspective.Epilepsy Behav. 2017;70(Pt A):193-197. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.02.021Zhang Y, Guo Y, Yang P, Chen W, Lo B.Epilepsy seizure prediction on EEG using common spatial pattern and convolutional neural network.IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2019. doi:10.1109/JBHI.2019.2933046Additional ReadingEpilepsy Foundation.2017 Revised Classification of Seizures. December 22, 2016.Meisel C, Loddenkemper T.Seizure prediction and intervention.Neuropharmacology. 2019;:107898. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107898
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Patel P, Ferastraoaru V, Gold D, Lipnick A, Jehle R, Haut SR.Clinical characterization of the pre-ictal state in the pediatric population: A caretaker’s perspective.Epilepsy Behav. 2017;70(Pt A):193-197. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.02.021Zhang Y, Guo Y, Yang P, Chen W, Lo B.Epilepsy seizure prediction on EEG using common spatial pattern and convolutional neural network.IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2019. doi:10.1109/JBHI.2019.2933046Additional ReadingEpilepsy Foundation.2017 Revised Classification of Seizures. December 22, 2016.Meisel C, Loddenkemper T.Seizure prediction and intervention.Neuropharmacology. 2019;:107898. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107898
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Patel P, Ferastraoaru V, Gold D, Lipnick A, Jehle R, Haut SR.Clinical characterization of the pre-ictal state in the pediatric population: A caretaker’s perspective.Epilepsy Behav. 2017;70(Pt A):193-197. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.02.021Zhang Y, Guo Y, Yang P, Chen W, Lo B.Epilepsy seizure prediction on EEG using common spatial pattern and convolutional neural network.IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2019. doi:10.1109/JBHI.2019.2933046
Patel P, Ferastraoaru V, Gold D, Lipnick A, Jehle R, Haut SR.Clinical characterization of the pre-ictal state in the pediatric population: A caretaker’s perspective.Epilepsy Behav. 2017;70(Pt A):193-197. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.02.021
Zhang Y, Guo Y, Yang P, Chen W, Lo B.Epilepsy seizure prediction on EEG using common spatial pattern and convolutional neural network.IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2019. doi:10.1109/JBHI.2019.2933046
Epilepsy Foundation.2017 Revised Classification of Seizures. December 22, 2016.Meisel C, Loddenkemper T.Seizure prediction and intervention.Neuropharmacology. 2019;:107898. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107898
Epilepsy Foundation.2017 Revised Classification of Seizures. December 22, 2016.
Meisel C, Loddenkemper T.Seizure prediction and intervention.Neuropharmacology. 2019;:107898. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107898
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