EEG technology helps doctors pinpoint the root of seizures

SEATTLE — Doctors at the Overlake Neuroscience Institute are working to demystify seizures and epilepsy, offering patients on the Eastside access to advanced testing and specialized care.

Dr. John Eaton, a neurologist at the institute, says Overlake is one of the few epilepsy centers serving Seattle’s Eastside, giving patients a place to turn for comprehensive evaluation and treatment. 

“Patients can go there for any type of epilepsy care that they need for any sort of specialist treatment,” he said.

Eaton explained that what makes the center unique is its ability to provide advanced diagnostic tools in one place. 

“We offer advanced diagnostic testing, including EEG brain imaging,” he said. “People can get all the care that they need to figure out what’s going on with their seizures and to get them appropriately treated.”

Epilepsy is defined by having multiple unprovoked epileptic seizures, caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. That distinguishes it from a single seizure brought on by something like a brain injury, alcohol withdrawal, or a medication reaction. 

“It’s important to get that figured out as sort of a first step,” he said.

Warning signs can vary widely. While many people picture the classic generalized tonic-clonic seizure involving full‑body stiffening and shaking, Dr. Eaton said symptoms can be far more subtle. 

“People can have other things like just a weird déjà vu feeling,” he said. “They can have twitching just on one side of their body or in their face.”

While some patients sense a seizure coming, many do not. 

“A lot of patients don’t really have a warning. So it is something that more family members, loved ones, friends, coworkers see a patient having a seizure and need to figure out what to do,” Dr. Eaton said.

If someone witnesses a seizure, safety is the priority. 

“Try to avoid any injuries,” Dr. Eaton said. “Try to get them safely to the ground, and try to clear the area around them.” 

For someone experiencing a first‑time seizure, he recommends heading to the emergency department to determine what happened.

From there, specialists like Dr. Eaton work to pinpoint the cause. One of the most important tools is an in‑hospital EEG, where electrodes monitor brain activity over time. According to Dr. Eaton, recording a seizure with this equipment attached can be extremely helpful. The goal is to determine whether episodes stem from epilepsy, fainting, or even stress‑related events that mimic seizures.

Overlake also offers surgical and device‑based treatment options for patients whose seizures don’t respond to medication. 

“We have all the aspects of care that somebody might need for treating their seizures,” Dr. Eaton said. “If anybody is having any seizures at all, they should be coming to me so we can get things figured out.”

For more information on seizures and epilepsy treatment, click here.

Sponsored by Overlake Medical Center and Clinics.