She has motor and sensory symptoms. This r/o both kinds of simple. Her seizures are not described as tonic/clonic movements, and include periods of impaired consciousness. This rules out generalized tonic/clonic. There is a post-ictal state, that rules out absence.

Also the lip smacking is characteristic of automatism, which is found in complex partial seiuzres

FA18 p 501

Partial = single area of brain. Simple = consciousness intact, vs complex = impaired consciousness (IE when patient does not respond during event). Complex also presents with automatisms (lip smacking). Absence is blank stare, commonly in kids, no post-ictal confusion. Tonic-clonic has alternating stiffening and movement.

partial seizures are focal seizures that are limited to one lobe of the brain and symptoms are according to what lobe of the brain is affected. since only motor symptoms are seen in one part of the body frontal motor cortex of that area of the body is the probable area of hyperactivity. now since there is a post ictal state (pt takes a few min to return to normal) and during the episode of seizure the pt. does not respond to questions (impaired awareness) followed by automatisms you know its complex and not simple partial. you know its not absence because even though pt's awareness is impaired during the seizure there is no post ictal state.

• Simple Seizures: no impaired consciousness
• Complex Seizures: impaired consciousness
• Partial Seizures: "part" of body
• Generalized Seizures: whole body