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Children's Hospital Tackles Seizures Step-by-Step
A Seaside Heights family finds new hope from the Epilepsy Center at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital
When Devin Seamen
was just a year old,
his parents started
noticing that his head would
suddenly twitch. As the twitches
grew more frequent and less
subtle, they knew something was
very wrong. Devin was referred
to a specialist in northern New
Jersey who diagnosed him with a
seizure disorder.
During the next six years,
Devin continued to be treated
with medications under the
care of two different neurologists.
Despite the treatment,
he was still experiencing 20
to 30 seizures each day.
Desperate to find a solution,
his mother, Tina, started
conducting additional research,
which led her to the experts at
K. Hovnanian Children’s
Hospital, including Roopal
Karia, M.D., a board certified
pediatric neurologist.
New Treatment Options
"Due to the frequency of
Devin’s seizures, we were
able to expedite his care and
do further testing," Dr. Karia
explains. From the start, Tina
was impressed with the care
and attention of Dr. Karia. "Devin is
undergoing a lot of new tests and Dr.
Karia has really taken the time to understand
his condition and make adjustments
to his medications. The office has
also helped to get the necessary insurance approvals and schedule these visits
quickly."
According to Dr. Karia, there are critical
differences in the types of seizures children
have. "By monitoring Devin for two days,
we were able to better pinpoint many details
about his seizures," says Dr. Karia. "We did a
video EEG, or electroencephalogram. During
the test, small button electrodes monitor the
electrical activity in his brain. EEG helps us
understand the seizure triggers — this is the
most definitive way to develop the right strategies
to treat the specific seizure."
Devin suffers from myoclonic seizures,
which are quick movements that occur
many times a day. Dr. Karia treated Devin
with new medications and dosages to
reduce their frequency.
Continued Challenges and Hope
Dr. Karia’s treatment plan is beginning to
decrease the frequency of seizures, which
also sets the stage to help Devin with his
physical and behavioral development.
While Devin struggles with intellectual
development and mastering day-to-day
activities, he is getting help through a specialized
school. Like most boys his age,
Devin enjoys watching sports, especially
wresting and basketball. His current treatments
offer much hope for his continued
development.
 – Ryan Younger
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At the Epilepsy Center at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, board certified pediatric neurologists work with specialized
teams to treat complex epilepsy and seizure conditions. Working with pediatricians and families, experts provide the
latest treatment options and treat the social and emotional needs of families. Learn about these services, and find pediatric
health information, by visiting KHovnanianChildrensHospital.com.
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