Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS)
A pacemaker-like device, implanted in the upper chest, which stimulates a nerve in the left neck and can reduce seizure activity.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound of the brain uses sound waves to visualize the structures. This is often used in infants under 6 months to see gross brain structures. Older children and adults have fused skulls that block the sound waves. No radiation in used in this test. This is not often used with HH.
Trauma
An injury or wound caused by external force or violence.
Tonic-clonic seizure
A convulsion; newer term for grand mal or major motor seizure; characterized by loss of consciousness, falling, stiffening, and jerking; electrical discharge involves all or most of the brain.
Tonic seizure
An epileptic seizure that causes stiffening; consciousness is usually preserved. The seizure involves muscles on both sides of the body, and electrical discharge involves all or most of the brain.
Therapeutic blood level
The amount of drug circulating in the bloodstream that brings about seizure control without troublesome adverse effects in most patients. “Subtherapeutic” (lower) levels are effective in some patients, and “supratherapeutic” or “toxic” (higher) levels are tolerated by others.
Thalamus
The portion of the brain which is involved in sensory perception and regulation of motor functions. It connects areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in sensory perception and movement with other parts of the brain and spinal cord that also have a role in sensation and movement.
Temporal lobe seizure
A simple or complex partial seizure arising from the temporal lobe of the brain.
Task-based functional MRI (tb-fMRI)
Task-based functional MRI (tb-fMRI) is a relatively new type of test, which has FDA approval, and is broadly available. Is shows where brain networks, such as those that control language or movement are located. Generally, the patient needs to be awake and reliably able to perform tasks such as language testing while in the MRI…
Syndrome
A group of signs and symptoms that collectively define or characterize a disease or disorder; signs are objective findings such as weakness, and symptoms are subjective findings such as a feeling of fear or tingling in a finger.