Temporal lobe epilepsy can result from physical defects, injuries, or conditions that alter electrical activity in the temporal lobes. Symptoms vary, but most people can manage their condition with medication. Diagnosis involves EEG and MRI scans, and treatment depends on the cause.
Temporal lobe epilepsy can refer to many different types of seizure disorders that result from abnormalities in one or both temporal regions of the brain. Physical defects, injuries, or conditions that alter the electrical activity in the temporal lobes can lead to frequent seizures, sometimes resulting in several dozen seizures a day. Most people with temporal lobe epilepsy are able to manage their condition effectively with prescription medications.
The temporal lobes are located on the left and right sides of the head in the lower half of the brain and are involved in hearing, memory, emotion, and many other processes. Temporal lobe epilepsy can result from several disorders, including temporal tumors, brain injuries, serious infections, and strokes. Many seizure disorders are related to the death of neurons in a very special area of the temporal lobe called the hippocampus. Also, some people are predisposed to temporal lobe epilepsy due to genetic disorders or birth defects of the brain.
Symptoms associated with temporal lobe epilepsy vary depending on the underlying cause and the precise location of the abnormal electrical activity. Most forms of epilepsy cause simple and complex partial seizures, meaning that only one lobe is affected. Simple seizures typically last a few seconds at a time and do not cause loss of consciousness. A person might experience distorted vision, hallucinations, muscle twitching, and increased heart rate. A patient can usually remember having an attack, although she may not be able to describe what happened during an episode.
Complex partial seizures can last from a fraction of a second to several minutes at a time and usually result in loss of consciousness during the event. A person may suddenly stop moving and talking and exhibit convulsions in the head, arms, and legs. After an attack, an individual may notice numbness or tingling sensations, as well as abdominal pain and nausea. Most people who have complex partial seizures don’t remember them. It is important for a person having a seizure to be taken to the emergency room following an episode, especially if it has not happened in the past.
A neurologist can diagnose temporal lobe epilepsy by doing an electroencephalogram (EEG) and doing magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain. EEG tests can confirm that electrical activity is unusually slow or varied, and diagnostic imaging tests can reveal underlying damage to the temporal lobe. In many cases, frequent follow-up EEG testing is needed to make sure the results are accurate.
Treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy depends on the cause, but most patients are able to manage their complaints with anticonvulsant medications such as phenytoin or carbamazepine. Patients who take their medications and are checked regularly have less frequent and severe seizures, and some people stop having episodes altogether. In some cases, surgery to remove tumors or correct brain damage may be necessary to give patients the best chance of recovery.
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