Epilepsy and GCSEs any advice

[Smartiepants79]

Does anyone have a child diagnosed with epilepsy who has or is doing their GCSE’s? Can I ask if they have any special arrangements? If so, what?
Thanks

It would entirely depend on the individual’s presentation of epilepsy such as the frequency of their seizures and/or impact on their daily life and any side effects of the medication they take. Your best option is discussing with the school.

Access arrangements can apply, or special consideration for an unexpected event. Access arrangements must be applied for in advance and the deadline may well be round about now. I remember finalising applications before February half term.

I agree that you should find out whether the school has applied for access arrangements, which could be rest breaks, taking the exam at a different time, depending upon the timing of seizures.

Thanks for replying. We are still 2 years away from actual exams but I was interested if anyone had experience of applying for access arrangements. We hope to have her seizures under control but I’m currently very sure that it is impacting her working memory and the speed at which she can process things.

Yes, contact the school and they’ll tell you what to do. My DS was allowed 25% extra time in exams and to also use a laptop where appropriate. His medication caused extreme shaking in his hands and his handwriting was and still is prettty much impossible to read.
The speed at which he could process information was also slow.
This meant he had to do some exams at different times to everyone else because of time clashes.
This carried on when he was at university.
Now is the time to get this sorted OP.

OK, 2 different things going on here.
If her working memory is poor, or her processing speed is low, and either meets a threshold, she will qualify fir extra time. Even tho the epilepsy is the cause, it isn't the reason for the access arrangements.

If a epileptic fit affects an exam, that would be a different situation. Hopefully an idea of how frequent fits are will help guide what could happen with regards to sitting an exam not in the hall with others etc

Epilepsy
Hi does anyone have experience with changing epilepsy medication. We have been advised our son needs to change from sodium valproate after 2 years and I'm a little anxious. He's been seizure free on epilim but now need to move to Lamotrigine or Levetiracetam. Does anyone have experience with changing or experience with either of the other alternatives? Thanks