juvenile myoclonic epilepsy usually starts around puberty in late childhood or adolescence. three different seizure types can occur in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: myoclonic seizures are the defining symptoms of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. myoclonic seizures cause sudden quick small jerks of the arms shoulder or (less often) the legs. the myoclonic seizures usually occur in the early morning just after waking up. myoclonic seizures can sometimes spread to the rest of the brain. when this happens a generalized tonic-clonic seizure (convulsive seizure) can occur. absence seizures affect the whole brain as well. in absence seizures a person becomes unresponsive and stares into space for short periods. no twitching or convulsing occur during absence seizures. these seizures can go unnoticed or be passed off as daydreaming or inattentiveness.
what are the symptoms of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?