A useful guide for referring to epilepsy

A useful guide for referring to epilepsy

Words can paint powerful pictures. Epilepsy Scotland is encouraging journalists to use objective language when describing the world’s commonest, serious neurological condition.

Medical conditions like epilepsy often attract a specific vocabulary for those who are affected:

Writers tend to use valiant verbs (battle, fight) and martyr nouns (sufferer, victim) as their media shorthand even when 7 in 10 people with epilepsy are seizure-free with medication.

A person has epilepsy or is affected by epilepsy – rather than suffers from epilepsy. Many of Scotland ‘s 30,000 individuals and their families who live with epilepsy find it offensive to be called epileptic – seizures are epileptic, not people. 
Epilepsy can affect anyone at any age and each person’s experience of this disorder is unique. Epilepsy is only a part of who people are – it is a medical word, not a life sentence.

No-one chooses to have epilepsy. Journalists can choose words to inspire their readers to feel compassion rather than pity about this hidden condition. 
One in 200 people have epilepsy. They did not ask to join a group of people stigmatised by this condition. Snappy headlines help to sell stories but can be demeaning to those with epilepsy.

Even today, epilepsy is considered a taboo disability. Epilepsy Scotland’s Journalist of the Year Award recognises skilful prose that helps to enlighten public attitudes towards people with epilepsy.

Epilepsy Scotland will be pleased to discuss these epilepsy guidelines and Journalist of the Year Award.

Source: © Epilepsy Scotland