A healthcare provider consulting with an epilepsy patient.

Epilepsy

Experiencing a seizure is a disorienting and alarming experience. If you've had two or more seizures, you may have epilepsy, which is a group of related seizure disorders caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Not all seizures are caused by epilepsy, and not all seizures are caused by abnormal electrical brain activity. However, one of the main features of epilepsy is a tendency to have recurring seizures.

Our internationally recognized F. E. Dreifuss Comprehensive Epilepsy Program offers the most advanced resources available to help you minimize the number of seizures you have.

Nationally Certified

The National Association of Epilepsy Centers has certified our epilepsy program as a Level 4 center because UVA has the expertise and facilities necessary to provide the highest level of care for patients with complex epilepsy.

    Conditions We Treat

    • Benign rolandic epilepsy
    • Childhood absence epilepsy
    • Developmental malformations
    • Frontal lobe epilepsy
    • Hypothalamic hamartomas
    • Infantile spasms
    • Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
    • Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

    Why Choose UVA?

    Nathan Fountain, MD, explains why he treats epilepsy at UVA. View Epilepsy Clinic transcript.

    A Team Approach to Care

    Our team-based approach to care allows us to explore all available testing and treatment options, including epilepsy surgery.

    The epilepsy team includes:

    • Adult and pediatric epileptologists
    • Neuropsychologists
    • Nurses
    • Technicians
    • Social workers
    • Nutritionists
    • Educational counselors

    Our program includes: 

    • Evaluation 
    • Video-EEG monitoring 
    • Medication management
    • Surgical evaluation
    • Neuropsychological evaluation and consultation
    • Rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy
    • Psychological evaluation and social services
    • Nutritional guidance
    Pediatric Epilepsy
    Our pediatric epilepsy providers have the advanced training and expertise to care for your child.

    As a designated Level 4 epilepsy center, we provide exceptional pediatric epilepsy care, such as inpatient monitoring to diet counseling. Our pediatric experts have the training and expertise to treat our youngest patients, from infancy to adolescence.

    Get treatment for your child

    Research
    An EEG recording obtained during a clinical trial.

    At UVA, we're committed to advancing both our understanding of the causes and effects of epilepsy and seizure disorders, and to investigating new treatments for these conditions, such as focused ultrasound and gamma knife. Pushing the boundaries of current medicine ensures a better future for our youngest patients.

    Explore our clinical trials

    Refer a Patient
    A nurse discussing the details of a patient referral by phone.

    If your patient is in need of the advanced epilepsy monitoring and care we can provide, our referral specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone and online, to help you get your patient the care they need.

    Refer your epilepsy patient to UVA

    Epilepsy: Patient Education Resources

    EEG Patient Instructions- Spanish

    Patient preparation sheet for routine and sleep deprived EEG studies in Spanish.

    Admission to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for Scalp EEG Monitoring - 6 Central

    Information about pre-admission to the hospital for continuous monitoring with video and EEG on 6 Central.

    Welcome Letter: 6 Central Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

    Informs patients admitted to 6C EMU about expectations and flow of care.

    Admission to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for Scalp EEG Monitoring - 6 Central (Spanish)

    Admission to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for Scalp EEG Monitoring - 6 Central Information about pre-admission to the hospital for continuous monitoring with video and EEG in Spanish

    EEG Patient Instructions

    Patient preparation sheet for routine and sleep deprived EEG studies.