facial tics and Rolandic Epilepsy

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abc123

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My 8 year old daughter went for an EEG to rule out epilepsy because she was having what we thought to be motor tics constantly throughout the day for about 7 months. Her EEG came back abnormal(only while she was sleeping). We were shocked! We were told she has rolandic epilepsy. We were also told that the tics (eye rolling, eye widening and face grimacing) had nothing to do with it. She is aware she is doing it but cant stop it. I always thought you were unaware if you had a seizure. We left with a diagnosis of rolandic epilepsy and medicine(clonidine) for her "tics" I guess I just wonder how the 2 arent related. She does have a half sister with epilepsy that does have pedi mal seizures and has had 2 grans mals. The neurologist said they had very similar EEG's. They said she may or may not ever have a seizure but it would most likely by in her sleep. I just wanted to learn more about this condition. So much to take in....
 
Hi abc123, welcome to CWE!

Seizure disorders come in many different forms, including varieties where folks are conscious of their seizures. Facial tics can be seizure-related, so I agree it's strange that the neurologist didn't think they were caused by epilepsy. Did the neurologist say what was causing them?

There's some more info here from the CWE archives on Benign Rolandic Epilepsy:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f42/benign-rolandic-epilepsy-12528/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/2-daughters-benign-rolandic-epilepsy-6795/

Best,
Nakamova
 
We actually went to this apt for the purpose of ruling out epilepsy since there is a strong family history. We were sure that what she had was just a chronic tic like with tourettes. She has them several times a day for 7 months and being tired, nervous, excited etc can bring them on or make them worse. She would do her eye roll in the middle of a conversation but not miss a beat. Sometimes it was quick and sometimes it was pretty long. I guess since it all started 7 months ago as a face and nose wiggle or grimace and later moved to her widening her eyes and then to rolling them and even twitching her head side to side that I assumed it was a tic and not a seizure. That is classic for how tics present themselves. But like I said. We had to be sure. So when we did the EEG and the dr came in and said its complicated, we were just shocked! Her EEG was abnormal during sleep. She said she had rolandic epilepsy but that she may go her whole life and never be affected by it or may or may not ever have a seizure. We never did really get to discuss the tics. She did say however that they were not related to the rolandic epilepsy. She said the seizure that this would cause would be completely different. Numb face or tongue,drooling and slurred speech. Also that she would most likely have it in her sleep. I asked her if she saw my daughter do her tic at all during her apt and she hadn't. (I of course did, but I am always watching.) But again assured me that they had nothing to do with each other. So we quickly discussed how to treat the tic if at all. Me and my husband's only concern was that she was trying all day at school to suppress them. She was very successful too, however she had to constantly rub her eye's or turn her head away from people to hide them. I didn't want her to have to do that. So she suggested a very safe and effective med called clonidine 01mg. It has worked very well. In a matter of days they have all but disappeared! Maybe that is my answer right there. If they were seizures, clonidine probably wouldn't have worked. I just know I saw other parents of children with Rolandic epliepsy talk about their kids doing similar facial movements and still being alert. Guess It got me wondering. I don't know.... It was a shocking apt and now I am even more confused. I guess the up side is that she is doing very well as of now. She never misses a beat!
 
I'm glad to hear the Clonidine helped with the tics. Hopefully there will be no signs of the Rolandic epilepsy, and she will "grow out of it."
 
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