Epilepsy CurrentsPosition Statement on Noninvasive Seizure Detection/Alerting Devices: A Joint Statement of the American Epilepsy Society, the Epilepsy Foundation, and the Danny Did Foundation

✅ Guideline Update

A joint position statement from the American Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Foundation, and Danny Did Foundation supports the appropriate use of validated noninvasive seizure detection and alerting devices as part of comprehensive epilepsy care. The organizations emphasize shared decision-making, balanced counseling regarding limitations, and improved insurance coverage for appropriate patients.

Clinical Considerations

• Current devices demonstrate the strongest performance for tonic-clonic (convulsive) seizures, with more limited detection of many nonconvulsive seizure types.
• Devices may provide real-time caregiver alerts, objective seizure counts, and support individualized safety planning.
• Evidence supports potential benefits for quality of life, caregiver anxiety reduction, and seizure documentation.
• Available evidence remains insufficient to demonstrate that seizure-alerting devices prevent SUDEP or other serious adverse outcomes.

Practice Applications

• Consider seizure-alerting devices for patients with nocturnal or recurrent tonic-clonic seizures.
• Recognize device limitations, including false alarms and incomplete seizure detection.
• Integrate shared decision-making when selecting monitoring goals and response plans.
• Interpret device-generated seizure data as a supplement to, not a substitute for, clinical assessment.