Seizures and lost skills — act quickly
Most of this site tells you what can wait. This page is the exception. Suspected seizures and clear loss of skills need prompt medical attention.
The short answer
- Any suspected seizure needs medical attention, not a wait-and-see.
- Losing skills a child previously had — words, feeding, toileting — warrants prompt assessment, including a genetics referral when appropriate.
- Staring spells and unexplained night-time events count. Record them on your phone if you safely can.
- Do not accept a behaviour-only explanation for clear unresponsiveness or regression without medical review.
At this age
Ages 0–4- Loss of words or skills after they were present needs prompt evaluation — same week, not next month.
- Action: write what you saw; call the pediatrician and ask for urgent assessment; video if safe.
Changes when you change the age at the top of the page.
At this age
Ages 5–8- Teachers may notice staring spells or sudden pauses. Ask them to note time, duration, and what happened after.
- Action: collect school notes; seek medical review rather than only a behaviour plan.
Changes when you change the age at the top of the page.
At this age
Ages 9–12- Night-time events and subtle daytime spells are easy to miss. Trust a pattern you keep seeing.
- Action: keep a simple log; ask for neurology referral if the pediatrician is unsure.
Changes when you change the age at the top of the page.
At this age
Ages 13–16- Teenagers can describe some episodes; others they will not remember. Both matter.
- Action: involve them in describing what they feel before an event if they can; still seek medical review for any suspected seizure.
Changes when you change the age at the top of the page.
This page is the exception
Most of this site is about order, patience, and what can wait. Seizures and clear developmental regression do not wait.
What to do this week
- Write down what you saw, how long it lasted, and what happened afterwards
- Call the pediatrician or emergency services as appropriate
- A phone video is worth more than any description — only if you can record safely without delaying care
- Ask for assessment, not only “monitor at home”
Log template
| Date | Time | Duration | What you saw | Afterward | Video? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seizures
Any suspected seizure needs medical attention. That includes:
- Convulsive events
- Staring spells with loss of responsiveness
- Sudden drops
- Unexplained night-time episodes followed by confusion or sleepiness
- Clusters of brief odd events
Do not wait for a second event if the first was clear. Do not accept a behaviour-only explanation without medical review.
If a seizure is prolonged, the child is injured, breathing is impaired, or you are unsure — use emergency services.
Lost skills (regression)
Losing words, feeding skills, toileting, or social engagement the child previously had warrants prompt assessment. Ask for evaluation, not only reassurance or a distant follow-up.
A genetics referral is often part of that workup. Also share history with the team assessing autism or related conditions — getting assessed.
Meltdown vs medical event
Meltdowns usually have a build-up, sensory or demand triggers, and recovery that fits the child’s pattern. Events with sudden unresponsiveness, rhythmic movements, or post-event confusion need a medical lens. When you cannot tell, seek medical review rather than guessing.
School
Ask teachers to log staring spells or pauses with times. Provide your log. Request that behaviour plans wait until medical questions are addressed when regression or seizures are on the table.
After you call for help
- Note the time the event started
- Keep the child safe from sharp edges; do not put objects in the mouth
- For emergency services, say “possible seizure” and the duration
- Follow medical advice on when ER is required
Ask the clinician for a written seizure action plan for school if epilepsy is confirmed or strongly suspected.
School letter template (short)
Please log any staring spells or unresponsive episodes with time and duration. Contact us the same day for new events. Do not treat clear unresponsiveness as only behaviour until medically reviewed.
Keep a copy in the advocacy folder.
Parent trap to avoid
Waiting for a ‘worse’ episode before calling. First clear events deserve medical advice now.
Questions parents ask after reading this
Use these with your co-parent, teacher, or clinician so the next conversation is concrete.
- What is the single highest-yield change we can make in the next seven days based on this page?
- What should we stop doing that is adding load without helping?
- Who else needs a one-page summary of this plan (school, caregiver, relative)?
- What would “a little better” look like in two weeks so we know the plan is working?
Write the answers down. Plans that live only in your head disappear on hard days.
If you only do three things
- Pick one action from this article and schedule it on the calendar (call, email, or routine change).
- Tell one other adult the plan in one sentence so you are not carrying it alone.
- Revisit this page after two weeks and note what changed — keep, adjust, or drop.
Small completed steps beat perfect unread plans. You are allowed to go slowly and still be a good parent.
Related
Questions parents ask
Where this comes from
- Clinical guidance on evaluating developmental regression.
- Paediatric epilepsy referral criteria.
This is health information, not medical advice. It cannot replace a conversation with your child's doctor.