8. The Ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 90 years. By itself, it does not have any negative effects on learning or behaviour. If it is effective, then one may be able to reduce the dosage or number of anti-epileptic drugs taken, with a potential for improving learning.

9. Surgery.

In the majority of cases, improvement in function occurs as a result of a reduction in seizures and a reduction in anti-epileptic drugs. Cognitive function may be affected if important areas of the brain have to be removed during the surgery or if the surgical procedure itself causes damage to the brain. Though there are some drawbacks and risks involved in surgery for seizures, the benefits seem to outweigh the few cognitive deficits that are sometimes reported. Space does not allow us to discuss the role of surgery in epilepsy. Clearly, all those who have intractable epilepsy should be evaluated to determine if they would benefit from any surgical procedure.

Learning Strategies:

1. Memory.

When it comes to learning, the most common difficulty for those with epilepsy is problems with memory. Whether these problems are caused by the seizures or by general mental slowing from the epilepsy medications, these memory problems can make learning very frustrating for a person with the disorder. Understanding of these difficulties by teachers and parents is crucial for effective learning experiences and supportive learning environments.

Strategies to improve memory skills include:

• Visual demonstrations and diagrams (especially if the seizures begin in the left temporal lobe).
  
• Colour-coded notes or high- lighting to better categorize material.
  
• Word associations with pictures or smells.
  
• Mnemonic strategies (verbal strategies such as this are helpful for seizures beginning in the right temporal lobe).
  
• Verbal repetition.
  
• Rhymes and songs.
  
• Active participation with the material that is trying to be remembered (e.g. asking questions, giving examples, etc.).
  
• Learning to stay calm when memory blanks – when you are calm information is more likely to come back to you.
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