 [ Symptoms ] how is epilepsy diagnosed [ Disease ] a doctor will start by taking a medical history followed by a physical and neurological examination of muscle strength reflexes eyesight hearing and ability to detect various sensations other tests include an electroencephalogram eeg test which measures electrical impulses in the brain imaging studies of the brain often with magnetic resonance imaging mri and blood tests to measure red and white blood cell counts blood sugar blood calcium and electrolyte levels and to evaluate liver and kidney function