ABSTRACT
Epileptic seizures are common: the incidence of epilepsy in the developed world is 50-80 per 100,000 persons per year. The prevalence of active epilepsy is about 50-100 per 1000 persons and it is estimated that between 2 and 5% of the general population will suffer at least one non-febrile seizure during their lives (Sander & Shorvon, 1996). It is one of the most common neurological conditions in both children and adults. Although many patients have a mild condition, epilepsy has a particularly high prevalence in individuals with learning disabilities and also physical handicap. Furthermore, even if the epilepsy is mild and there are no additional physical handicaps, many individuals feel stigmatised and epilepsy carries with it potentially severe social disadvantage. The condition is responsible for considerable medical and social disturbance and there is a potential for rehabilitation in diverse areas; intervention may focus on medical, neuropsychological, psychiatric, and social aspects. The rehabilitation of physical disability is seldom the main issue and severe physical handicap uncommon, although when epilepsy and severe physical handicap do exist, disability and handicap is severe.
