Written for people with epilepsy, their families, doctors and teachers, UNDERSTANDING EPILEPSY casts light on a rather mysterious condition, and in the process helps people to come to terms with it. This new edition of UNDERSTANDING EPILEPSY answers all the vital medical questions, including: What is epilepsy? What causes it? What are the different types of epilepsy? What are the different types of seizures? How is epilepsy diagnosed? How can it be managed? How does it affect older people, children and disabled people? What sorts of activities should a person with epilepsy avoid? But this book goes beyond the medical facts to discuss the social implications of epilepsy. UNDERSTANDING EPILEPSY takes a frank and sympathetic look at the condition that can often make people feel discriminated against, or stigmatised. Most importantly, it discusses the advantages of openly acknowledging the condition - how this leads to acceptance on the part of the affected individual and possibly more tolerance from the general public.