Teaching video neuroimages: reading epilepsy: a seizure in a thousand words (or less).
A 14-year-old right-handed boy developed spells of lip twitching only while reading. With prolonged reading, he occasionally experienced loss of awareness and limb jerking (figure and video on the Neurology® Web site at www.neurology.org). Reading epilepsy is a rare form of reflex seizure in which reading (silently or aloud) may trigger orofacial myoclonus, stammering, aphasia, or generalized convulsions. Onset is typically in early adulthood, with 2:1 male predominance. It occurs in isolation or autosomal dominant fashion.(1) Previous reports suggest efficacy of clonazepam, valproate, or levetiracetam.(2) Our patient did not tolerate levetiracetam but remains seizure-free on oxcarbazepine. Reading epilepsy should be recognized and promptly treated to avoid unnecessary academic struggles.
From the Department of Neurology (J.K.G.) and Division of Child and Adolescent Neurology (E.M.B.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Jeremy K
JK
Gregory
Eileen M
EM
Broomall
D000293:Adolescent; D020195:Epilepsy, Reflex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059906:Neuroimaging; D014741:Video Recording