Almost 2,000 years ago, an ancient doctor called Galen was writing about epilepsy symptoms: “When the doctors asked what the movement into the head was like, [another] boy said ... the movement upwards was like a cold ”. The word ‘aura’ comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘breeze’ - and it is why we use the word aura in epilepsy today.
Many people with epilepsy experience auras. For example, in a survey of almost 800 people with generalized epilepsy, it was suggested that about two thirds appeared to experience at least one form of aura.
Auras are often seen as a sign that the person will soon have a ‘bigger’ seizure (although people sometimes have an aura without a seizure). What exactly are auras, and what might it mean when you have one?
What is an aura?
An aura can be understood as the way an individual person experiences a focal seizure. It is a change in the perception of the world (how they see, hear, feel, taste or smell) that happens to some people with epilepsy or migraines.
Key information about auras:
- Auras normally last between a couple of seconds and a few minutes - with about one minute being the median time.
- If you have epilepsy, auras are a type of seizure known as a focal seizure. This is when the electrical activity causing the seizure is focused in one part of the brain.
- For some people, an aura happens before another ‘bigger’ seizure where they lose consciousness. This is why many people think of auras as a ‘warning’.
Learn more: The difference between focal and generalized seizures
What can an aura feel like?
People often find auras hard to describe, and they experience them in different ways. Aura symptoms may include:
- Visual: flashing lights, blurred vision, some loss of sight, seeing things which are not actually there
- Smell: unpleasant smells, like rotten eggs
- Taste: odd tastes like metal, bitterness, or saltiness
- Sounds: you might hear odd noises like ringing or buzzing, and some people hear songs
- Feelings: You might experience a range of different feelings, such as lightheadedness, nausea (feeling sick), a rising feeling in your stomach or strong emotions like sadness, joy, panic or fear.
- Deja vu: Some people have a sense of deja vu, like they’ve experienced something before.
- Others: You may experience other aura symptoms not described above.
Although auras can be difficult to describe, it can be useful for your epilepsy doctor to know about them. This is because you will usually have the same kind of aura each time - and that may help your doctor learn more about your seizures.
For example, if you always see flashing lights when you have auras, that could give your doctor a clue about where seizures happen in your brain.
Auras in epilepsy can be useful
Everybody’s auras are different. For some people they may cause less issues, but for others, auras can feel scary and may make them feel anxious.
All the same, being aware of your auras may be useful:
- They can help your doctor learn more about what is causing your seizures
- Some people’s seizures are frequently preceded by an aura, so they can make adjustments such as finding somewhere safe to wait
- After having an aura, some people tell the people they are with that a seizure might come on soon, so their friends or family know what to do
Seizure tips: Telling people about your seizures
Speak to your doctor about your auras
If you experience aura symptoms, speak to your doctor about what they might mean for you and your epilepsy management.
You can also record your auras in Epsy - this can help your doctor see if there are any patterns in the kinds of auras you have.
