DSS Framework · Dementia-seizure domain model

A shared language for dementia-related seizure presentations.

The Dementia Seizure Spectrum™ (DSS) is Seagull Health’s maintained domain model for describing reported observations across four connected domains: Seizure Events, Movement Changes, Awareness Changes, and Behavioral Changes.

DSS models the domain without deciding what caused an event. DSEF applies evidence-linked evaluation to the broader pattern. SeizureSafe supports practical follow-through.

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The maintained domain model

Four domains describe what was observed—without deciding what caused it.

The domains provide a consistent structure for observations that may otherwise be fragmented across notes, reports, conversations, devices, studies, or software. One event may involve one domain or several.

Domain 01

Seizure Events

Conventional presentation

Observable events associated with more conventionally recognized seizure presentations.

Examples may include loss of consciousness, tonic stiffening, rhythmic jerking, incontinence during an event, or a marked post-event change from the person's usual baseline.

Observable Signals

Loss of or marked change in consciousness Tonic stiffening Rhythmic jerking Incontinence during an event Post-event change from baseline
Read the field guide →
Domain 02

Movement Changes

Motor presentation

Abrupt, episodic, or stereotyped movement changes that may contribute to a broader event pattern.

Examples may include chewing or lip-smacking movements, rhythmic limb activity, sudden stiffening, or repetitive hand movements. Observers should document what occurred without presuming its cause.

Observable Signals

Chewing or lip-smacking movements Rhythmic limb activity Sudden stiffening Repetitive hand movements Responsiveness during the movement Duration, recurrence, and recovery
Read the field guide →
Domain 03

Awareness Changes

Awareness presentation

Sudden or episodic changes in responsiveness, engagement, communication, or awareness.

Examples may include blank staring, behavioral arrest, reduced responsiveness, speech interruption, or a clear post-event change from baseline. Exact onset, duration, responsiveness, and recovery should be documented.

Observable Signals

Blank or fixed staring Sudden reduction in responsiveness Behavioral arrest Speech interruption Event amnesia when assessable Post-event change from baseline
Read the field guide →
Domain 04

Behavioral Changes

Behavioral presentation

Abrupt, episodic, or stereotyped changes in behavior, affect, language, or purposeful activity.

Examples may include sudden fear, agitation, speech interruption, repetitive purposeless actions, or a marked episodic change from baseline. Behavioral observations alone do not establish seizure activity.

Observable Signals

Abrupt fear or agitation Episodic mood or affective change Speech interruption Repetitive purposeless actions Clear onset and endpoint Stereotyped recurrence Recovery pattern
Read the field guide →
How the intelligence architecture works

DSS gives the rest of the system a stable domain model.

DSS supplies the shared structure. DSEF applies evidence-linked evaluation. SeizureSafe supports practical, non-diagnostic follow-through. Seagull maintains the language, mappings, evidence relationships, and release identity that keep the system aligned.

01 — Observe

A reported or structured event

A person, organization, product, study, or system captures what occurred, including onset, duration, responsiveness, movement, behavior, context, and recovery. The observation remains neutral at this stage.

02 — Model

A DSS domain profile

DSS structures the observation across Seizure Events, Movement Changes, Awareness Changes, and Behavioral Changes. One event may involve one domain or several without establishing its cause.

03 — Apply evidence

Evidence-linked DSEF computation

DSEF applies documented evaluation logic to the observations, background context, competing explanations, documentation quality, and safety conditions. The result remains transparent and non-diagnostic.

04 — Follow through

SeizureSafe guidance

SeizureSafe connects structured understanding to practical guidance for recognition, safety, documentation, communication, escalation, and follow-through.

The shared foundation

Explore the model in use.

See how DSEF applies DSS to reported observations, or explore the paid, fixed-scope DSEF for Organizations Build.

Start a free DSEF evaluation → See the Build →

The DSS Framework is a structured domain model for describing reported observations associated in published literature with possible seizure activity in dementia. It does not determine that an event was a seizure, provide an individual probability, or replace clinical evaluation. Similar observations can have neurological, cardiovascular, infectious, medication-related, sleep-related, metabolic, psychiatric, environmental, or dementia-related explanations.