Epilepsy has been classified as having six different possible causes by an international group of health care professionals and scientists, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).

Genetic changes are one of the six possible causes of epilepsy described by the ILAE. 

• A “genetic” epilepsy is caused by a change in the sequence (or spelling) of a gene associated with epilepsy and is rare.
• A genetic cause means that there is a change in the instructions (or genes) that make us who we are. 

Genetic testing is useful in some types of epilepsy, including more severe genetic epilepsies that involve other symptoms (e.g. intellectual disability, Autism (level II/III), behavioural issues, sleep disturbance, or visual problems). 

Occasionally where there is a clear family history of epilepsy, genetic testing may also be helpful where an inherited form of epilepsy is suspected.