A sleeping baby with electrodes on their head.

Monitoring seizures

Back to Epileptic Seizures

Monitoring seizures allows for early action if a child or young person with epilepsy has any changes to their seizure patterns. When seizures are monitored and recorded properly, young people, their families, and professionals involved in their lives will be on the same page when managing their epilepsy.

This page covers information on equipment for monitoring seizures, monitoring seizures at night, recording seizures, and how to fund the equipment for monitoring seizures. The information is helpful for young people with epilepsy and your parents and carers.

If you are considering purchasing a seizure monitor or alarm it’s important to speak to your doctor or epilepsy nurse. At the moment there’s not enough evidence to show they can guarantee someone’s safety during a seizure.

Please note: Young Epilepsy does not endorse any of the brands, equipment or services.

How do you monitor seizures?

You can monitor epileptic seizures by combining personal observation, written records, and/or equipment.

Looking at personal records together with medical information gives the clearest picture of how epilepsy affects your daily life.

Observing and recording seizures

One of the most common methods is watching and noting what happens during a seizure. Look for changes in movement, awareness, speech, or behaviour, how long the seizure lasts and how recovery feels afterwards.

Parents, carers and other trusted people may want to record the seizure on video to show medical professionals with the young person's consent.

Seizure watches, seizure monitors, and seizure alarms

Some people also use seizure watches, seizure monitors, and seizure alarms. These devices are worn on the body or placed nearby and look for signs such as repeated movements, changes in heart rate, or breathing patterns. If something unusual is detected, the equipment can alert a parent, carer, or someone nearby so they can check and provide help.

These tools do not detect every seizure, but they can add an extra layer of monitoring and reassurance.

Medical monitoring

Finally, medical monitoring is an important part of seizure management. Doctors may review seizure diaries and, at times, use tests that record brain activity or other body signals.

How do you record seizures?

Recording when seizures happen, how long they last, and any changes to the child or young person with epilepsy's seizure patterns are essential for monitoring seizures.

Download a seizure record chart

Record the exact time and date of the seizure, and if you are writing it for a child or young person with epilepsy, use their own words as much as possible. Make a note of:

Any changes in breathing
Movements of arms and legs
How long it took for them to fully recover
Head movements
Eye movements
Medication given
How long the movements or behaviours lasted
Changes in skin colour
Changes in how they respond to you.

More seizure recording tools...

Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP)

An Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) is essential for young people with epilepsy, allowing everyone who needs to know about your epilepsy to stay up-to-date.

Seizure observation and treatment form

This downloadable Seizure Observation and Treatment Form helps school staff record seizures, actions taken and treatment clearly and consistently.

Assessment of Behaviour and Learning in Epilepsy (ABLE)

The Assessment of Behaviour and Learning in Epilepsy (ABLE) helps young people, parents and teachers understand learning, behaviour and support needs at school, which can be affected by changes in seizures.

Monitoring seizures at night

If you are a parent or carer of a child with epilepsy who has seizures, you’ll naturally want to keep a close eye on them, even when they’re sleeping.

Around 20 to 40% of epilepsy seizures in childhood occur in sleep – much higher than in adults. With some epilepsy syndromes, seizures happen mainly at night.

Seizures that happen during the night are often called ‘nocturnal seizures’.

As a parent or carer, you might be particularly anxious about nocturnal seizures, because you can’t be with your child all the time.

There are also seizures that tend to happen on waking.

To help your doctor look for any patterns, it can be helpful to make a note of when your child has seizures.

Tiredness and not getting enough sleep are common seizure triggers, so it’s important to establish good sleep habits.

Although anti-seizure medications can affect sleep, effective treatment of seizures is likely to improve sleep quality in the long run.

Epilepsy and sleep

Nocturnal seizures are not the only part of epilepsy that can disrupt sleep. Stress, side-effects of medication, and seizures themselves can lead to a bad night's sleep, and tiredness is often a seizure trigger. Learn more in this video.

Many parents like the added peace of mind that seizure monitors, alarms and other equipment can provide.

Every child is different, so if you’re thinking about buying any night-time safety equipment, you should speak to your doctor or epilepsy specialist nurse about it.

At present, there’s no evidence to show that seizure alarms or monitors can guarantee someone’s safety during a nocturnal seizure.

However, some families do find monitors useful as part of a plan for reducing the risk of nocturnal seizures.

But, research continues in this area. We’ll update you when more information becomes available.

A note about safety pillows

Safety or anti-suffocation pillows are normally made of soft, highly porous foam with greater airflow than ordinary pillows.

Their gently rippled surface has plenty of air cavities between the surface of the pillow and the net cover.

These pillows should not be used for babies and children under three years old.

Anti-suffocation pillows for children over three are available from Sleep-Safe.

Be aware that using safety pillows is a matter of personal choice and there is no evidence that they prevent death from suffocation or SUDEP.

How are seizure monitors tested?

As with all medical devices, seizure monitors undergo rigorous testing and must be compliant with certain International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards.

At present, there is no evidence that seizure alarms or monitors can guarantee someone’s safety during a seizure but some people have found alarms and monitors helpful for reducing risk.

Research continues in this area. We’ll update you when more information becomes available.

Finding the right solution for you

A number of manufacturers produce a range of devices designed to alert someone if you or your child is having a seizure.

Before buying any, though, you should contact some of them to find out which would be most suitable.

They should spend some time with you finding out about your particular needs to see whether their device will work for you.

They’ll need to know some basic information, such as your or your child’s weight and height, and what their typical seizures look like.

Seizure monitor types

Below you’ll find information on the different types of equipment for monitoring seizures and a list of suppliers of seizure monitoring equipment. Note that Young Epilepsy does not endorse any of these products or suppliers.

Basic audio-visual equipment

The simplest form of device is a listening monitor, such as a baby monitor, which lets you hear any sounds from your child’s room.

But, remember – some seizures can be silent, so you might miss them.

You can also have a monitor with a camera so you can see your child.

However, neither of these devices will directly alert you to a possible seizure.

Monitors detecting movements associated with seizures

Several devices on the market monitor movements associated with seizures, including muscle spasms.

You place a special sensor pad under the mattress of the bed or cot.

You can programme the settings for your child, taking into account other movements such as turning over or adjusting sleep position, without triggering the alarm.

You can adjust the settings so they’re sensitive enough to detect even the small movements associated with some seizures.

When the pad detects movements, an alarm is activated on the base unit or a mobile pager.

Some monitors also include a microphone to pick up any sounds your child might make before or during a seizure.

You can also get discreet monitors small enough to fit into the palm of your child’s hand.

Equipped with high-performance sensors that can detect seizure-induced movements while ignoring normal sleep activities, the monitor sends you an alert via a radio system.

Multi-symptom seizure monitors

These monitors are often designed to detect a number of symptoms associated with seizures – including bed-wetting and salivation (drooling).

They can also be activated if your child leaves their bed, falls out of it during a seizure or leaves it in a confused state.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution, but you can adjust the sensors in each monitor to your child’s needs.

Monitors that detect changes in heart rate

Some research suggests there are often changes in heart rate at the start of a seizure.

You can now get a device that monitors your child’s heart rate overnight.

You programme the device with your child’s normal heart rate patterns. Then, you attach to your child’s wrist or ankle a small Bluetooth-enabled sensor.

If your child’s heart rate changes from their normal patterns, the sensor sends an alert to an app on a base unit (a dedicated tablet)

Equipment suppliers for monitoring seizures

Please note: Young Epilepsy does not endorse any of the following suppliers or equipment. Speak to your doctor or epilepsy nurse before purchasing seizure monitoring equipment.

Epilepsy Action has a more comprehensive list of seizure equipment and what it is used for.

Find out more

Alert-iT
Sleep easy range for children and adults
alert.co.uk

Easylink UK
easylink.co.uk

Epilepsy Alarms UK
A wide range of seizure monitoring alarms and epilepsy sensors to help detect and manage a wide range of seizures, including tonic-clonic and myoclonic
epilepsyalarms.co.uk

Epilepsy Solutions
Monitors and InspyreTM by SmartMonitor – app works with smart watch.
epilepsysolutions.co.uk

Health and Care
Online retailer selling a wide range of fitness, sports and health and safety products – use the search tool to find epilepsy alarms and epilepsy monitors
healthandcare.co.uk

Living Made Easy
Personal health alerts and alarms
livingmadeeasy.org.uk
info@dlf.org.uk

Medpage
A range of epilepsy monitors and alarms, including video
medpage-ltd.com

My Medic Watch
Smart detection apps providing peace of mind (Apple and Android compatible)
mymedicwatch.com

Safety Systems Distribution Ltd
Emfit Tonic-Clonic Seizure Monitor
safetysystemdistribution.co.uk

SAMi
Video-based sleep activity monitor. Needs an Apple device to run the SAMi iOS app
samialert.com

SeizAlarm
Seizure Detection for the iPhone and Apple Watch
seizalarm.com

SJS Services
Epilepsy alarms
sjs-services.co.uk

Sleep-Safe #
Anti-Suffocation Pillow for children over the age of three
sleep-safe.co.uk

Funding for monitoring seizures

You might be able to get financial help to buy epilepsy monitors, alarms and other equipment, depending on your circumstances. The following sources may be useful.

Charities

The Daisy Garland
Grants for SATs monitors or Emfit seizure monitors
thedaisygarland.org.uk
Grant enquiry form

Disability Grants
Provides a guide to grants for people with disabilities, including grants for equipment
disability-grants.org
Grants for disability equipment

Dravet Syndrome UK
Provides seizure monitors for children and adults with Dravet syndrome
dravet.org.uk

The Family Fund
Provides grants to help with costs of essential items, including equipment
familyfund.org.uk

Florence Nightingale Aid in Sickness Trust
Provides funding for medical and household equipment, including sensory equipment
fnaist.org.uk

The Hospital Saturday Fund
Provides funding for specialised equipment
hospitalsaturdayfund.org

Jon Shaw Foundation
Provides funding for equipment and services not normally available on the NHS for young people with epilepsy
jonshawfoundation.org

Variety
Provides grants for specialist equipment, including sensory, assistive and medical
variety.org.uk

Disabled Facilities Grants

If you need to make changes to your home, you might be able to get a Disabled Facilities Grant from your local authority.

Find out more

Social services

In England and Wales, you can ask for your local authority’s social services to carry out a needs assessment to see if you can get support with buying equipment.

Find out more about applying for a needs assessment by social services:

GOV.UK – Apply for a needs assessment by social services
NHS – Getting a needs assessment

If you live in Northern Ireland, you can find information here:

NI Direct – health and social care assessments

If you live in Scotland, you can find information here:

Care Information Scotland – Assessment of your care needs

VAT exemption on equipment

Some items designed for use by someone who is disabled or has a long term health condition are exempt from VAT.

The company selling you the equipment should tell you if that particular product is exempt from VAT.

In order for the government to waive VAT on your purchase, you just need to make a simple declaration about your child’s epilepsy at the time of ordering.

Find out more about VAT exemption

Further information

Epilepsy Action has a comprehensive list of seizure monitors and other equipment.

Check out their recommendations

Last updated December 2023.

We’re currently reviewing this information. The next update will be 2025. If you would like to find out more about how we produce our information, or the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at healthinfo@youngepilepsy.org.uk