Atypical Absence Seizure Summary 1

ATYPICAL ABSENCE SEIZURE SUMMARY

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Atypical absence seizures can often be confused with daydreaming, staring into space, or behavioral issues.1

LENGTH

Atypical absence seizures normally last 5 to 30 seconds.2

BLANK STARE

The individual "blanks out" or stares into space for a short period of time, unaware of what's going on.2

EYE MOVEMENT

The individual's eyes may turn upwards, then slowly close and open.1

OTHER MOVEMENTS

The individual may also blink, make chewing movements with their mouth, smack or slightly jerk their lips, or rub their fingers or hands.2

AFTER THE SEIZURE (POSTICTAL)

The individual's eyes and body return to normal, and they usually continue doing whatever they were doing before. If they experience several of these seizures back-to-back, they may be confused or tired.2

REFERENCES

1. Kiriakopoulos E, Shafer PO. Epilepsy Foundation. Updated August 26, 2019. https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-types/absence-seizures 2. Kiriakopoulos E. Epilepsy Foundation. Accessed October 28, 2025. https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-types/atypical-absence-seizures