Epilepsy and other developmental disorders
This information is for people affected by or concerned about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental coordination disorder (DCD or dyspraxia), as co-occurring conditions with epilepsy. On this page we talk about both disorders, including types, characteristics, possible causes and the numbers of children likely to be affected.
Use this page as a general guide and speak to a health professional for more information and support.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Some children show high levels of distraction, hyperactivity (being overactive) or impulsive behaviour (acting quickly without thinking about consequences). This type of behaviour may be diagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
There are three types of ADHD. These include:
- Predominantly inattentive type
- Predominantly hyperactive–impulsive type
- Combined inattentive and hyperactive–impulsive type
You can read more about ADHD, including about each type, on the NHS website.
The most common symptoms of ADHD usually fall into two types of behavioural problems. These include:
- inattentiveness – for example, finding it difficult to concentrate and focus
- hyperactivity and impulsiveness – for example, being unable to sit still, fidgeting, or acting without thinking.
To find out more about common symptoms of ADHD, visit the NHS website Symptoms: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Data shows that ADHD affects about 1 in 20 of school-age children in the UK.
However, for children with epilepsy, as many as 1 in 3 are thought to also have ADHD. There is some evidence which shows that ADHD which is predominantly inattentive is more common in children with epilepsy than other types of ADHD.
The reasons why some children with epilepsy have ADHD include:
- the side effects of anti-seizure medications, including inattention (being easily distracted), hyperactivity and mood problems
- a common biological or genetic problem that causes both ADHD and epilepsy
- the effect of seizures or ongoing abnormal electrical activity in the brain
- Psychosocial issues stemming from having epilepsy
Some medications for treating ADHD can affect how often seizures happen, so when doctors are prescribing treatment for ADHD, they need to think about the advantages and disadvantages of each medication. They will discuss these with you.
In children who have epilepsy where their seizures are not well controlled or if they have a history of tonic-clonic seizures, how often they have seizures should be monitored closely after starting medication to manage their ADHD.
Delays in getting an ADHD diagnosis
If a child has epilepsy, and you think they may also have ADHD, it may take some time to get a formal diagnosis for their ADHD. This is because some of the side effects of anti-seizure medications used for epilepsy, such as hyperactivity, inattention and aggression, can be similar to some ADHD symptoms.
Also, some seizure symptoms can be similar to behaviours seen in ADHD, and some symptoms seen in ADHD can be similar to symptoms of seizures.
These reasons may lead to a delay in diagnosing either epilepsy or ADHD or may even mean that your child receives a wrong diagnosis (misdiagnosis). For example, absence seizures are often mistaken as ADHD.
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, is another disorder which is seen in children with epilepsy.
DCD affects the coordination skills needed for balance, playing sports and tasks such as driving or riding a bike. It also affects fine motor skills, such as writing or using small objects.
It’s thought that DCD affects up to 6% of the population, with up to 2% of those being severely affected. Males are also four times more likely to be affected than females.
In most cases, we do not know yet what causes DCD. Current research suggests that it may be neurones in the brain not responding properly or that develop differently.
As well as being seen in people with epilepsy, there may also be an overlap between DCD and people with ADHD, learning difficulties, dyslexia and autism.
DCD and self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS)
Some research also suggests that children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) may be more likely to have DCD than children without SeLECTS. However, more research is needed to find out why some children with SeLECTS also have DCD.
Find out about treatment and support of co-occurring conditions with epilepsy.
Other useful organisations
NHS website
Information about ADHD and DCD.
The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity
An organisation that supports people affected by ADHD, including children and families.
