Tracking symptoms, seizures and behaviours so doctors can act on them
Simple ways to record observations — including the ABC method for behaviours — that turn day-to-day notes into useful clinical information.
By the Personal Care Records founders 2 min readUpdated 24 September 2026
“How often does it happen?” is one of the first questions any clinician asks, and one of the hardest to answer from memory. Consistent tracking turns vague impressions into patterns that doctors, therapists and behaviour practitioners can actually use.
Decide what you are tracking and why
Tracking everything is exhausting and rarely useful. Pick the few things that matter for current decisions: seizure frequency while a medicine is being adjusted, sleep while trying a new routine, bowel movements when constipation is a concern, or a particular behaviour while a support plan is being developed. Agree with your clinician on what they would find most helpful.
Record the essentials every time
- Date and time the episode started.
- How long it lasted.
- What it looked like — describe what you saw rather than labelling it (“eyes rolled up, right arm stiffened, did not respond to name”).
- What happened just before: illness, missed sleep, a missed dose, heat, excitement, a change in routine.
- What you did, including any rescue medicine given and the time.
- How the person was afterwards and how long recovery took.
The ABC method for behaviours
Behaviour practitioners often use ABC charts: Antecedent (what happened immediately before), Behaviour (exactly what the person did), and Consequence (what happened immediately after, including how people responded). Recorded consistently, ABC notes help reveal what a behaviour is communicating — perhaps pain, a need to escape a noisy room, or a wish for attention or a preferred activity.
Try to record ABC notes as soon as possible after the event, while details are fresh, and stick to observable facts rather than interpretations. “Pushed plate away and cried when the television was turned off” is more useful than “was naughty at dinner”.
Use video carefully
A short video of a seizure or unusual movement can be extremely helpful to a neurologist, often more than a written description. Only record when it is safe to do so — care comes first — and treat videos as private health information: store them securely, share them only with the treating team, and respect the dignity of the person being filmed.
Look for patterns before appointments
Before a review, spend ten minutes looking back over your notes. How many episodes were there this month compared with last? Do they cluster at certain times of day, around illness, or after poor sleep? Bringing a short summary — “9 seizures in August, 3 in September since the dose increase; most in the early morning” — gives the clinician a clear picture in seconds.
This guide shares general information and lived experience. It is not medical advice. Always follow the guidance of qualified health professionals, and in an emergency call 000.
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