What are common symptoms in absence seizures?

Absence seizures, a type of generalized seizure, are characterized by brief, sudden lapses in attention or awareness. During these episodes, individuals often display minimal motor activity, which can be as subtle as blinking, staring off into space, or slight hand movements. These episodes usually last only a few seconds and may go unnoticed by others, but they can cause a child or individual to miss parts of conversations or lectures.

This lack of significant motor activity distinguishes absence seizures from other seizure types, which might involve more pronounced motor features. While some symptoms like confusion or fatigue may be present in associated disorders or following the seizure, they are not defining characteristics of absence seizures themselves. Thus, the hallmark of absence seizures is indeed the minimal motor activity, such as blinking, as the individual briefly loses awareness without the dramatic convulsions often associated with other types of seizures.