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2086351 tn?1333288676

is television banned?

my daughter is 2 years old, and she's experiencing a seizure, her eyes blink rapidly...she's already taking her medication, but her pediatrician told me she is not allowed to watch television for at least a year or so but her pediatrician neurology, didn't mention anything about television ban, and i forgot to ask her about it, and now I can't get an appointment to meet her just to ask her about that... it's just so hard for me and for my daughter not to watch when everybody does...please tell me, if my daughter really is not allowed to watch television?
Best Answer
144586 tn?1284666164
It is not discipline. Even so-called "normal" individuals can experience seizures from flickering lights.The reasons are unclear, however it involves the pathways from the optic nerve to the brain. The difference between a diagnosed epileptic and the rest of us rests in the threshold at which the brain responds to such stimuli. This threshold may vary from day to day or year to year. An anti-seizure drug raises the threshold by blocking signals. The standard answer is to "ask your physician", however the best thing would be to have a controlled experiment, preferably in a hospital or where you could reach medical aid, and see if there is evidence of seizure. Remember that in most cases such a seizure will pass on it's own, and the biggest problem is obstruction of airway due to vomiting food. Thus, one reasonable approach would be not to permit watching television while eating or until at least an hour has passed after eating. While most so-called epileptics have sensitivity to flickering licghts this is not the case in all individuals. There can be many causes of seizures. Lack of oxygen to critical structures is one reason. In a commercial aircraft, if there is sudden depressurization there is a liklihood that some passengers will undergo a seizure. Thus, somewhere down the line an MRA (not an MRI) should be in order to determine if the vascular blood supply to the brain is up to speed. Another approach would be to insure someone is with your daughter while she is watching television, at least until you can determine if there is indeed a problem. In many cases those who are likely to have an episode without medication will not have one on the medication. She may outgrow this problem, so don't give up hope. In the United States, many hospitals will not provide anti-seizure medication until the third documented occurance. A single seizure in a child could result from accidental ingestion of houshold cleaner or insect poison, for example.
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2086351 tn?1333288676
Thank you very much for that information, I'll follow some of your suggestions, up until I meet with her doctor by schedule...Thank you again caregiver222...
Helpful - 0
2086351 tn?1333288676
thank you very much for that information caregiver222... is it a matter of discipline? should I not let my daughter watch television for a year? cause if that's what it really takes, I will do it for her... cause if that's really the case, she probably got it from watching too much, because of her hyper active behavior I often left her alone watching television, just to make her put in one place... now I feel like an irresponsible mother for letting this happen and lacking of information regarding this matter.
Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
In certain cases epileptic seizures can be induced by flickering lights, particularly red lights and strobes. Helicopter pilots have experienced seizures from the sun coming through the blades. This is the reason the back of propellers in light aircraft are often painted flat black. Some epileptics are sensitive to this while others are not. The problem was worse in the old analog screens before digital television, but the problem persists with computers. Sunglasses and a polarizing lens sometimes eliminates the problem. Not all epileptics are alike. That being said epilepsy is not necessarily a life-long condition, and as she grows up the symptoms may disappear.
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