Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What is a key feature of absence seizures?

1. Loss of consciousness

2. Blank stare

3. Involuntary muscle spasms

4. Prolonged duration

The correct answer is: Blank stare

A key feature of absence seizures is the presence of a blank stare. During an absence seizure, which is often brief and may last only a few seconds, the person typically exhibits a sudden interruption of consciousness accompanied by a lack of responsiveness. This manifests as a vacant look or a blank stare, and the individual may not respond to external stimuli. While loss of consciousness is related to absence seizures, the specific characteristic that distinguishes them is the blank stare. Involuntary muscle spasms are more commonly associated with generalized tonic-clonic seizures rather than absence seizures. Prolonged duration is also not a valid characteristic of absence seizures, as they are typically very short. Therefore, the blank stare is the most distinctive and defining feature of absence seizures, highlighting the transient nature of these episodes.