This Site Is Intended for US Residents
You should continue to this site only if you are a US resident.
ContinueYour Relationship With Your Other Children
Having a loved one with LGS can affect your relationship with your other children. Engaging in family activities and alone time with your children without LGS can help them feel better supported, which can ultimately help strengthen your relationship.
LGS Also Impacts Siblings
People who have a sibling with LGS learn the importance of being patient and compassionate with others at an early age. They often show a great amount of strength on the outside but can at times be struggling on the inside. A study showed that they also often experience high levels of stress, anxious feelings, and fear. Some common challenges siblings face during their day-to-day lives include:
Feeling Unhappy
Up to 62% of siblings reported feelings of unhappiness
Anxiety
As much as 58% of siblings showed possible anxiety symptoms
Fear
Many of those surveyed, including 79% of siblings aged 9-12, expressed fear that their sibling may pass away
The Siblings Voices Study was created to measure the emotional impact of growing up with a sibling with certain types of epilepsy like LGS.
Learn More
Keep Siblings in the Loop
The experience of having a sibling with LGS can be difficult at times. As a parent, it’s important to talk about it together and find ways to help them to understand and cope with the situation. Open communication is one way to make sure everyone feels supported. It’s helpful to recognize the effect that growing up with a sibling with LGS may have on them. Those who are kept aware of what is happening with their loved one with LGS have been shown to be more aware of their feelings and happier.
Understanding LGS can help lower depression and anxiety
Up to 76% of siblings who understood the basics of epilepsy or who had helped during a seizure reported being in better moods.
Knowledge of their sibling's condition can bring comfort
Up to 86% of those who were informed about the status of their sibling's condition reported feeling more comfortable talking about it with other people.
When your child with LGS has a seizure, it’s important to know what exactly makes their brothers and sisters most comfortable. Some might want to get involved and help you, while others might want to distract themselves by being in a different room. Talking together and creating a plan in advance rather than when a seizure emergency is actually happening may help them feel better prepared.
Create Your Own Seizure Action Plan Today