A study of the significance of photoparoxysmal responses and spontaneous epileptiform discharges in the EEG in childhood epilepsy.

•Photosensitivity occurs in all types of epilepsy rather than in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy only.•Focal epilepsy (in children not using therapy) tends to be associated with self-sustaining photoparoxysmal responses.•Treatment tends to make the photoparoxysmal responses more self-limiting•Treatment tends to decrease the standardized photosensitivity range of photoparoxysmal responses.•There is a tendency that clinical signs during Photic Stimulation occur in EEGs with spontaneous epileptic discharges.