Accessibility
Print
Krembil Neuroscience Centre (KNC)
Epilepsy - Patient Information
Overview 
Clinics Research Eplipesy Team Patient Information A - Z Glossary Map & Directions Health Professionals Media Room
Referrals and Diagnosis
Patients are referred to the UHN Epilepsy care area by a specialist or by their family physicians. The first stop for most patients is our Ambulatory Epilepsy Clinic. In this clinic, a team made up of neurologists, a nurse clinician and an acute care nurse practitioner conducts tests that help find out if a patient is suffering from epilepsy. Tests may include an electroencephalogram (EEG) and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test. These tests help the team better understand the seizures, what may be causing them and how severe they are. A neuropsychologist may also test language, memory and other cognitive functions to locate the source of seizures in the brain. Patients may also be monitored in our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit so that we can learn more about the seizures over an extended period of time.
Treatment and Support
After investigating the location and type of epilepsy, the team will talk with patients about the best course of treatment. The most common treatment is anti-epileptic drug therapy, which allows almost half of epilepsy patients to completely control their symptoms. However, some patients may be candidates for surgery if drug therapy does not prevent seizures. Our epilepsy team is also leading the way with research into other ways of controlling seizures, such as vagus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation.
UHN Patient Education Brochures and Pamphlets
Useful Links
- UHN Health Information on Epilepsy
- British Epilepsy Association
- Epilepsy Canada
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Epilepsy Ontario
- Epilepsy Surgery Support Group
- Epilepsy Toronto
- Epilepsy Toronto Support Groups
