Absence Seizure

Diagnosis & Tests

How is the condition diagnosed?

Diagnosis of epilepsy begins with a medical history and physical exam. The healthcare provider will ask about contributing illnesses or injuries. An electroencephalogram, or EEG, will be ordered. An EEG measures electrical activity within the brain. If a seizure occurs during the EEG, the abnormal activity can be detected. A normal EEG does not rule out seizures. Other tests that may be ordered include:

  • blood tests to look for diseases or conditions causing the seizures
  • cranial CT scan to look for abnormalities in the brain
  • cranial MRI to provide a closer look at brain structures
  • positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to identify the abnormal brain area