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Living with Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 34

A rare neurological condition with seizures in the first year of life that move around the brain and are hard to treat.

Understanding Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 34

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 34 (DEE34) is a rare neurological condition in which seizures begin in the first year of life.

Seizures start after normal early development. They are refractory migrating focal seizures, which start in one area of the brain and move to another, and they resist antiseizure drugs. Children lose developmental skills and have severe global impairment.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list a symptom list. Based on its summary, features include:

  • Seizures that start in one brain area and move to another
  • Seizures that resist medicine
  • Loss of developmental skills
  • Severe global impairment

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
Expert care
Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Epilepsy Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing of the SLC12A5 gene confirm the diagnosis?
Which seizure treatments might be options when medicines fail?
Which therapies support development?

Quick facts

InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

Changes in the SLC12A5 gene cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Also known as: dee34; developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 34; early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 34; early infantile epileptic encephalopathy caused by mutation in slc12a5; eiee34; epileptic encephalopathy, early infantile, 34

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 34GARD ID 16147 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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