The Two Main Types of Seizures

Charlotte, NC-based neurologist Dr. Hemanth Rao divides his time between serving as president of The Neurological Institute and as medical director at Carolinas ContinueCare. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Hemanth Rao of Charlotte, NC, is a dedicated clinical researcher who has studied such conditions as epilepsy, a brain disorder characterized by seizures.

Most seizures can be categorized as one of two types: generalized and partial. Generalized seizures affect both the right and left hemispheres of the brain and occur when the nerve cells in the brain misfire. When a person experiences a generalized seizure, he or she may black out, have muscle spasms, or fall. There are six types of generalized seizures, including grand mal seizures, which are the most noticeable; tonic seizures; myoclonic seizures; and absence seizures, formerly known as petit mal seizures.

Meanwhile, partial seizures, also known as local or focal seizures, affect one side or area of the brain. These types of seizures have varying physical or emotional effects and can make people hear, feel, or see things that aren’t real. Because of these symptoms, partial seizures may be mistaken for mental illness or another nerve disorder. Roughly 60 percent of people with epilepsy experience partial seizures.

People with epilepsy may also experience both types of seizures. For example, a seizure may start as a partial seizure and then escalate to a generalized seizure.