The easiest way to spot an absence seizure is to look for a blank stare that lasts for a few seconds. People in the midst of having an absence seizure don’t speak, listen, or appear to understand. An absence seizure doesn’t typically cause you to fall down. You could be in the middle of making dinner, walking across the room, or typing an e-mail when you have the seizure. Then suddenly you snap out of it and continue as you were before the seizure.

These are other possible symptoms of an absence seizure:

Being very still

Smacking the lips or making a chewing motion with the mouth

Fluttering the eyelids

Stopping activity (suddenly not talking or moving)

Suddenly returning to activity when the seizure ends

If you experience jerking motions, it may be a sign of another type of seizure taking place along with the absence seizure.