epileptologist

An epileptologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and management of epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Epileptologists are typically neurologists who have completed advanced training in epilepsy, often through a dedicated fellowship in epilepsy or clinical neurophysiology, and may hold board certification in neurology with an epilepsy subspecialty. Pediatric epileptologists complete additional training in child neurology.

Training and qualifications usually include medical school, a residency in neurology, and a fellowship focused on epilepsy. This training emphasizes seizure classification, diagnostic testing, and treatment planning. In many countries, epileptologists may pursue formal subspecialty certification and work in expert centers that treat both adults and children.

Scope of practice encompasses comprehensive evaluation of people with seizures, including history, physical examination, and classification of seizure types. Epileptologists employ and interpret diagnostic tools such as electroencephalography (EEG), long-term video-EEG monitoring, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and sometimes genetic testing or metabolic studies. They differentiate epilepsy from other conditions that mimic seizures and advise on lifestyle, safety, and driving restrictions as needed.

Treatment may involve antiseizure medications, dose optimization, and addressing medication side effects. For drug-resistant epilepsy, epileptologists coordinate comprehensive presurgical assessment to determine eligibility for epilepsy surgery or other interventions. These can include resection or disconnection procedures, laser interstitial thermal therapy, and neurostimulation techniques such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), or deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Epileptologists work in hospitals, university medical centers, and specialized epilepsy centers, often as part of multidisciplinary teams that include neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, and rehabilitation specialists. They may treat both pediatric and adult patients and participate in research and clinical trials to advance therapies and improve quality of life for people with epilepsy.