Why does my daughter space out?

An absence seizure causes you to blank out or stare into space for a few seconds. They can also be called petit mal seizures. Absence seizures are most common in children and typically don't cause any long-term problems. These types of seizures are often set off by a period of hyperventilation.

Why does my child keep zoning out?

Most high school children occasionally zone out in class because they are either tired or bored. But when your child chronically daydreams, this could indicate she is struggling with attention skills. Attention is one of our executive functions: the set of skills that let us execute daily tasks.

Is it normal for kids to stare into space?

Your child's mind is such a busy place with everything she's learning every day, and her imagination is growing as fast as she is. No wonder some kids “space out” and stare into space from time to time. Though most staring spells are perfectly normal, sometimes they can signal an absence seizure.

What do absence seizures look like?

Someone having an absence seizure may look like he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level of alertness. This type of seizure usually doesn't lead to physical injury.

What causes staring spells?

Staring spells are common in children and may be epileptic (e.g., absence or complex partial seizures) or nonepileptic (e.g., inattention or daydreaming). The diagnosis is typically based on parental reports of the episode and results of electroencephalography (EEG).

Control versus space when teens are acting out

What does staring into space indicate?

phrase. If you are staring into space, you are looking straight in front of you, without actually looking at anything in particular, for example because you are thinking or because you are feeling shocked. He just sat in the dressing room staring into space.

What does a blank stare indicate?

: a look that shows one does not understand what someone has said or does not know the answer to a question My question only drew/got a blank stare.

Is zoning out a seizure?

What are absence seizures? An absence seizure causes you to blank out or stare into space for a few seconds. They can also be called petit mal seizures. Absence seizures are most common in children and typically don't cause any long-term problems.

What triggers absence seizures?

Causes. Seizures result from overactivity in the brain. Absence seizures occur most often in people under age 20, usually in children ages 4 to 12. In some cases, the seizures are triggered by flashing lights or when the person breathes faster and more deeply than usual (hyperventilates).

How do I know if my child has absence seizures?

If your child experiences an absence seizure: They may look like they are staring off into space or have a blank stare. Your child has temporarily lost awareness of what's happening around them. They may suddenly stop all activity — even in the middle of an activity — and will not respond during the seizure.

Can ADHD cause staring spells?

The characterization of staring spells can be difficult, as many children with ADHD also have behavioral staring (“spacing out”; not responding to their name).

What happens if absence seizures go untreated?

Usually absence seizures last no longer than 15 seconds, but that loss of consciousness can make paying attention in school and learning more difficult especially when they occur multiple times a day. Children who have absence seizures may miss things throughout the day and even risk getting hurt.

How do you test for absence seizures?

Is zoning out a symptom of anxiety?

People who have chronically high levels of anxiety sometimes have the experience of “zoning out” or “numbing out.” The technical term for this is “dissociation.” All of us dissociate at times, this is normal.

How do you stop space spacing?

Is zoning out a symptom of depression?

Depression Sign #3: Forgetfulness and Trouble Concentrating

Having to read paragraphs over and over, zoning out during a conversation, or staring at the TV but not following the plot are also telltale signs.

What age do children outgrow absence seizures?

In about 7 out of 10 children with absence seizures, the seizures may go away by age 18. If this happens, medicines may not be needed as an adult. Children who start having absence seizures before age 9 are much more likely to outgrow them than children whose absence seizures start after age 10.

Can stress cause absence seizures?

Some people experience symptoms similar to those of an epileptic seizure but without any unusual electrical activity in the brain. When this happens it is known as a non-epileptic seizure (NES). NES is most often caused by mental stress or a physical condition.

Can a brain tumor cause absence seizures?

Yes, they can. Seizures occur when the brain's normal patterns of electrical impulses are disrupted. They are a common symptom of brain tumors, with most patients experiencing at least one seizure throughout the course of their illness.

What's the difference between absence seizures and zoning out?

Children with either inattentive ADHD or absence seizures might seem zoned out, and they may miss information at school because of their conditions. The difference between inattentive ADHD and absence seizures is that your child's attention can be regained in the case of ADHD.

Can ADHD cause absence seizures?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs more frequently in people with epilepsy than in the general population. Children with ADHD have an increased risk of seizures, with approximately 14% of children with ADHD developing seizures.

What mental illness causes blank stares?

These mixed messages confuse your brain and cause a seizure. An absence seizure causes you to blank out or stare into space for a few seconds. They can also be called petit mal seizures. Absence seizures are most common in children.

What is anxiety stare?

Scopophobia is an excessive fear of being stared at. While it is not unusual to feel anxious or uncomfortable in situations where you're likely to be the center of attention — like performing or speaking publicly — scopophobia is more severe.

What is the danger of having a fixed or blank stare?

RULE 3: MAINTAIN EYE MOVEMENT

⇨ Avoid focusing on one object for more than 2 seconds Staring at something for more than a few seconds can cause a blank or fixed stare, which will can cause a driver to lose his/her peripheral vision.

What happens to your brain when you stare into space?

But when you're staring out the window into space, relaxing, or driving (and not listening to the radio) and you let your mind wander, the task-negative brain becomes active. All of those neurons start making connections between things you didn't see before, usually at an unconscious level.