What is AHC?

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) is characterized by transient attacks of paralysis in one or more extremities. Episodes often include symptoms of painful dystonia (stiffening of the body), hypotonia (low muscle tone), and uncontrollable eye movements of varying types. Despite its name, this disorder is a lifelong disability that currently has no cure, presenting initially within the first 18 months after birth. Its presentation of symptoms is often described as a combination of a number of more well-known neurological disorders making it extremely difficult to diagnose medically. As a result, due to the complex nature of this disorder and its relatively unknown presence medically, children are often misdiagnosed with epilepsy initially before receiving properly diagnosis. Due to the neurologically damaging nature of this disorder, half of children diagnosed with AHC may still likely develop epilepsy in time.