Epilepsy is a common comorbidity with autism/Asperger syndrome

Nov 13, 2011 14:27


LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: The fluttering of fluorescent bulbs, including the energy-saving replacements for incandescents, set off epileptics.

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seizures, username: ar - az

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somniumdraconae November 13 2011, 19:44:20 UTC
I don't have any diagnosed epilepsy but I do HATE fluttering fluorescent lights. They make my head hurt and they make me feel prone to inappropriate emotional outbursts.

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alobar November 13 2011, 20:53:00 UTC
I hae been using CFL bulbs in daylight color for a decade or so. I love them!
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB

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writerwench November 13 2011, 22:09:33 UTC
That's quite well-known over here - epileptics have always had to avoid offices with fluorescent tube lighting because of the fit-trigger. It's one huge reason why the systematic replacement of incandescent (ordinary) lightbulbs with long-life compact fluorescent ones was such a BAD idea. Quite apart from the way they lose strength so quickly - they may last many times longer than an incandescent bulb, but at a pathetically low light output level.

My niece, who has PROFOUND autism, developed epilepsy around the age of 18. She may have had it before then, but she tends to have micro-fits that are hardly detectable, with a doozie every now and then. Poor girl is non-verbal so it's impossible to comfort her, as well.

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brockulfsen November 14 2011, 00:22:38 UTC
I wonder if hat varies depending on the frequency of mains power?

Some places are 60Hz, others are 50Hz.

Many CFL bulbs have quite complex circuitry to replace the old ballast and starter set up, and run at a substantially higher frequency than the mains.

There are DC (rectified and smoothed) LED replacement globes (expensive but lifespans approaching forever). Cheap LED globes may have similar mains frequency problems to Fluorescents (due to poor smoothing), but will not flicker so much as dim and brighten 60/120 (50/100) times a second.

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