Link between Autism and Epilepsy? - Autism Spectrum Message Board

heather06 · 05-30-2006, 11:06 AM

I was diagnosed at age 4 with epilepsy, put on medicine for epilepsy then. Nephew was recently diagnosed with Autism, and reading into it have a lot of same symptoms. The medicine i take for epilepsy, can be taken to help with autism. I don't like it when people touch me, it feels like i am getting shocked, lights hurt my eyes constantly, espically strobe lights, and noises that arent loud to most people drive me nuts, I was wondering how close these two disorders are because they sound to have similar characteristics now that i have read into both. Not all epilepsy patients have seizures, i havent had one in years, makes me wonder if i have been misdiagnosed...anyone know how close these two are?

9CatMom · 05-30-2006, 08:19 PM

I have a mild seizure disorder (fortunately controlled by medication) and suspect I have some Asperger's traits.

Liz Cook · 05-30-2006, 08:36 PM

you may have been on the spectrum all a long and are high enough functioning to not have been noticed. our pediatrician told when isaac was diagnosed with autism that 1 in 4 people with autism develope epilepsy so we have to keep an eye out for seizures. so i would say that the two neurological disorders are likely to come up in the same genetic pool if there is a predisposition for either of them. as far as autism goes... its EVERYWHERE

1 in every 166 births now produce an autistic child. in 1980 that number was 1 in every 10,000 births so one has to wonder... is it an epidemic or the start of evolution? food for thought anyhow

SuchGreatHeight · 05-30-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz Cook

is it an epidemic or the start of evolution? food for thought anyhow

Possibly a problem with statistics

?

I have HFA/AS and they're trying to figure out if I have a seizure disorder (possible TLE). And 1 in 4? good to know

As for actual misdiagnosis of symptoms between Autism and Epilepsy, it is hard to confuse the two. What you describe though, sounds like Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Which almost every autistic person has SID.

You could very likely have both. Especially because a person with a seizure disorder can not have seizures for a long while, especially if they are on medications.

SGH