Seizures and Epilepsy in Severe and Profound Autism, with Dr. Stephanie Morris

National Council on Severe Autism Webinar, March 27, 2024
Stephanie M. Morris , MD is Medical Director, Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI) At Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore.
She is neurologist with special qualifications in child neurology, and is also an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She works with kids with autism and I/DD and especially genetic conditions such as Fragile X syndrome and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).
In this webinar, Dr. Morris explains what seizures and epilepsy are, the different types, the high prevalence of seizures in autism, particular severe autism, various treatment approaches, and accessing care.
Moderated by Jill Escher, president, NCSA

[adrianmiles]

U gotta manage the methylation and low vit b7 is known to cause seizures

[VAAutismProject]

Virginia had a bill in this last legislative session to try to gather data about SUDEP. The bill failed but it would be helpful when drafting a bill for the next legislative session to have some thoughts from medical professionals about how to draft a bill that would gather the necessary data. It would also be good to have uniform draft language for bills so other states can address with legislation and we can start to gather more information/data on SUDEP.

[matthewcrome]

This is interesting to me as I'm planning on working with people with severe ASD/IDD, and though I've never witnessed a seizure in any of my clients I've actually had seizures myself (I have very mild ASD/Asperger's and a luckily very well-managed seizure disorder). I had a grand mal seizure in 2022 which was very scary, and have had several partial complex seizures since then. Luckily I don't meet any of the risk factors for SUDEP. Still I need to know all of the basic safety procedures for a grand mal seizure both in case it ever happens again or I have to deal with a client who has epilepsy. SUDEP sounds incredibly tragic - a lot like SIDS, there's just no way to know beforehand.

[federicomanuelolveira]

Interesting, I have NF1, Dispraxia, ADHD and according to some doctors, a mild ASD.