Epilepsy is very commonly mistaken for other diseases, so its diagnosis is extremely important before moving forward with treatment or attempts to determine its cause. A variety of tests are often necessary to diagnose epilepsy.

•  The doctor’s main tool in diagnosing epilepsy is a careful medical history with as much information as possible about what the seizures looked like and what happened just before they began. The doctor will also perform a thorough physical and neuro examination. Blood test to rule out other diseases may also be ordered.

• A next tool used is an EEG test, or electroencephalograph, which tests your brain’s wave patterns for unusual activity through electrodes that your doctor attaches to your scalp. The test generally is about 60 minutes long. Your doctor may also suggest running the test while you are sleeping, as brain wave activity is sometimes easier to measure during sleep, or he may provide you with portable EEG testing equipment to monitor you throughout the day. Be aware that in about 50 percent of cases, epilepsy patients do not show abnormal brain activity by EEG test. In these cases, other tests are needed.

• Imaging tests, such as CT (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans may be used to search for any growths, scars or other physical conditions in the brain that may be causing the seizures. In a few research centers, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is used to identify areas of the brain which are producing seizures.