EPILEPSY WITH AUDITORY FEATURES (EAF)
- Familial
focal epilepsy with variable foci (FFEVF): Whereas seizures compatible with EAF can occur in an individual in a family with FFEVF, for familial EAF to be diagnosed, all affected individuals in the family must have seizures compatible with EAF.
- Psychiatric disorders: Auditory hallucinations are easily distinguished from EAF by the more chronic nature and complexity of psychiatric auditory hallucinations.
- Tinnitus: This disorder is common and thus may be coincidentally present in the patient's family. This is distinguished from focal sensory auditory seizures by
the usually longer duration of tinnitus in disorders of the peripheral auditory system, and the presence of other features of seizures accompanying ictal auditory
sensations.