A burst of unusual electrical signals in the brain can interrupt normal
connections and cause a seizure. When a person experiences two or more
seizures not related to temporary health problems, such as high fever,
high or low blood sugar or substance withdrawal, epilepsy may be the cause.
Oklahoma’s Only Level 4 Epilepsy Center
If you or a loved one of any age experience a seizure on more than one
occasion, you can find the comprehensive care you need from experts in
neurology and neurosurgery at the OU Health Epilepsy Program in Oklahoma
City. You’ll get advanced epilepsy services in Oklahoma’s
only level 4 (highest) epilepsy center, designated by the National Association
of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).
Multidisciplinary Team-Based Approach
When you choose OU Health for epilepsy care, you’ll work with a team
of experts from multiple healthcare disciplines. Everyone focuses on your
particular condition, whether one that’s new to you or as a long-term,
uncontrolled (refractory) or challenging epilepsy.
The variety of specialists on your team also consider any coexisting medical
conditions such as depression, learning disabilities, anxiety, genetic
disorders and more. You and your team will develop a precise diagnosis
and a comprehensive treatment plan designed for your specific situation.
Request an Appointment
View our locations and providers to find a neurosciences specialist that
works for you.
To ensure you receive the most accurate diagnosis for your condition, you
and your OU Health epilepsy team may take advantage of a full range of
advanced epilepsy diagnostic testing services, including:
Electroencephalography (EEG) – Measures brain waves and electrical activity; offered on an outpatient
basis at OU Health
Resting-state
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – Helps determine the specific location in the brain for a certain
function like speech or memory
Intracranial subdural grids/depth electrodes (iEEG), including stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG)
Wada test (intracarotid sodium amytal memory suppression) – Helps evaluate
language and memory functions in one half of the brain at a time
Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
At the OU Health Epilepsy Program, you can also take advantage of level
4 epilepsy center services, including the more complex and intensive forms
of neurodiagnostic monitoring in our innovative epilepsy monitoring units
(EMUs). Available to people of any age, OU Health adult and pediatric
inpatient EMUs offer intracranial monitoring with both grid electrodes
and stereo electroencephalography.
In addition, comprehensive continuous, time-locked EEG with video and audio
data capture allows your team of specialists to accurately diagnose epilepsy
and potentially identify the precise area inside the brain where seizures
begin. Monitoring also helps your doctors differentiate the problem of
non-epileptic seizure events (seizure imitators).
Should your OU Health epilepsy care team recommend a stay in the EMU, you
or your loved one benefit from detailed testing information that helps
your doctors recommend specifically tailored treatments and possible cures
for evaluation, both of which may offer options to include in your individual
care plan.
Through the OU Health level 4 epilepsy center program, you gain access
to comprehensive treatment options that may include medication therapy
and evaluation for epilepsy surgery, as well as services such as:
Responsive neuro-stimulation (RNS) with NeuroPace/The RNS System®
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
In addition, you may benefit from dietary (nutrition) therapy, clinical
trials of new and experimental drugs or devices for seizures, or education
about effects of epilepsy and seizure medications on pregnancy and the
developing baby.
Your Epilepsy Care Team
As part of the top-level care you receive through the OU Health Epilepsy
Program, your team includes specially trained neurologists with expertise
in treating seizures, as well as neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, nurse
specialists, EEG technologists, social workers and others with extensive
training and experience in epilepsy care and treatment.
With everyone focused on the goal of controlling or at least reducing the
frequency and side effects of seizures, you benefit from your team’s
extensive knowledge and skill – all to help you achieve the best
possible outcomes for your particular condition.
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