A smartwatch can tell someone what happened to you after the fact. A handful of devices now exist that are built to catch the seizure itself, while it’s happening, without anyone needing to be in the room.
In Medical ID Bracelets vs. Smartwatches, I walked through the case for wearing both a medical ID and an Apple Watch, and where Fall Detection genuinely helps and where it quietly falls short for something like a seizure. That post covers general-purpose safety tools well, and if you haven’t read it, it’s the right starting point.
This post goes somewhere that one didn’t: dedicated, purpose-built seizure detection devices. These aren’t watches that happen to notice a hard fall. They’re built from the ground up around the specific movement and physiological signature of a convulsive seizure, and through my years running a nonprofit connecting families to resources like these, I got to see firsthand what that distinction means to a household that’s been living with the alternative, which is no warning at all.
Fall Detection asks “did something hard just happen.” Dedicated seizure detection asks “does this specific pattern of movement and heart rate match a seizure.” That’s a narrower question, and answering it well is exactly why these devices exist.
In This Article
What Dedicated Devices Actually Detect
Apple’s Fall Detection, which I covered in the hub post, is built around a hard, sudden impact, the signature of a person going from upright to the ground quickly. A convulsive seizure doesn’t always produce that signature. Someone can seize while seated, in bed, or already on the floor, and none of those scenarios trip a fall-based algorithm, even though they’re exactly the moments a caregiver needs to know about.
Dedicated seizure detection devices are built around a different signal entirely: the rhythmic, repetitive limb movement of a tonic-clonic seizure, often combined with the sharp heart rate spike that accompanies it. Some devices rely on accelerometer data alone; the more clinically validated ones combine motion with heart rate, since that combination cuts down meaningfully on false alarms compared to motion by itself. This is a narrower job than general fall detection, and that narrowness is the entire point. A tool built to recognize one specific pattern well tends to outperform a tool built to recognize many patterns adequately.
It’s worth being precise about what these devices are cleared to catch. Every device discussed below is validated specifically for generalized tonic-clonic seizures, the kind that involve major convulsive movement. None of them reliably detect focal seizures, absence seizures, or other non-convulsive seizure types, and none of the manufacturers claim otherwise. If your seizures aren’t primarily tonic-clonic, a dedicated detection device may add far less than it would for someone whose seizure type matches what these devices were built and tested to find.
The Devices Available Right Now
The landscape here has genuinely shifted in the last couple of years, and it’s worth knowing the current picture rather than an outdated one, since this is a small market where products get discontinued and replaced.
EpiMonitor, made by Empatica, is the direct successor to the Embrace2 watch that built the company’s reputation in this space. Embrace2 is no longer sold to new customers; existing users can keep using it, but new purchases go through EpiMonitor, which runs on Empatica’s newer EmbracePlus watch. It’s FDA-cleared for ages six and up, worn on the wrist day and night, and pairs with a smartphone app that sends an automated call and text to designated caregivers, with location, when it detects a likely tonic-clonic seizure. The device itself is a $399 one-time purchase, and it requires an active monthly subscription to function at all, currently starting around $17 to $27 a month depending on the plan and how many caregivers you want alerted. Battery life runs up to about a week. Empatica reports a low false alarm rate in its own published data, and independent real-world testing has generally supported strong sensitivity for the seizure type it’s built to catch, convulsive tonic-clonic seizures, though results have been more mixed for other seizure types it was never designed to detect in the first place, which I’ll get into in the next section.
NightWatch+, made by LivAssured, takes a different approach. Instead of a smartphone-dependent watch, it’s a sensor worn on the upper arm during sleep, paired with a bedside alarm station. There’s no app requirement and no monthly subscription; it’s a one-time purchase that works independently the moment it’s set up, sounding an audible and visual alarm at the bedside when it detects a seizure. It’s been used in Europe for several years and has recently reached the US market with FDA clearance, though currently only for children ages four to sixteen and specifically for nocturnal use. The US version costs around $1,990 as a one-time payment, considerably more upfront than EpiMonitor, but with no recurring cost afterward. It’s worth noting this is a nighttime-only tool by design; it isn’t meant to catch a daytime seizure, which is a meaningful limitation if that’s when yours tend to happen.
Both are legitimate, FDA-cleared tools built by companies that have put real clinical validation behind their claims, which matters enormously in a category where plenty of consumer gadgets make detection claims they can’t actually support.
What the Research Actually Shows
It’s tempting, when a device says “FDA-cleared” and “98% accuracy,” to treat that as the whole story. It isn’t, and being honest about the limitations here matters more than usual, because this is a category where an inflated claim can genuinely put someone at risk if it leads to a false sense of security.
A broader look at the research on wrist-worn and surface-worn seizure detection sensors shows sensitivity for tonic-clonic seizures generally landing somewhere in the high 80s to mid-90s percent range, with false alarm rates that vary quite a bit depending on the device and setting, typically well under one false alarm per day in the studies with the strongest designs. That’s meaningfully good performance for the specific seizure type these devices target, and meaningfully worse than the number on the box might suggest, since sensitivity in a controlled hospital monitoring unit doesn’t always hold up identically at home.
A 2026 real-world study out of a Canadian epilepsy monitoring unit is a useful reality check here. Researchers found that a wrist-worn device on Empatica’s platform detected all sixteen tonic-clonic seizures that occurred while patients wore it correctly, with alerts typically reaching caregivers within about 25 seconds. But the same study found it missed every one of the more than 500 focal seizures that occurred during the same monitoring period. That isn’t a flaw in the device so much as confirmation of what the manufacturers already say: these tools are built for convulsive, tonic-clonic seizures, not the full range of seizure activity a person with epilepsy might experience.
On the more encouraging side, a study published in May 2026 in Neurology’s open-access journal found that a newer smartwatch-based detection approach correctly identified 46 of 47 tonic-clonic seizures in a monitored group of 242 patients, with a false alarm rate roughly 90 percent lower than what’s typically reported for this category of device. Research in this space is actively improving, and it’s worth watching, but it’s also a reminder that the technology available to buy today and the technology being validated in the newest studies aren’t always the same generation.
The honest summary: these devices work meaningfully well at the specific job they’re designed for, catching a tonic-clonic seizure and getting a caregiver’s attention quickly. They are not a substitute for the fuller picture of seizure safety I laid out in Reducing Your SUDEP Risk, and no device on this list claims to prevent SUDEP outright. What the better-validated ones can do is shorten the time between a seizure starting and someone finding out about it, and that gap is exactly where a lot of the risk lives.
Choosing What Makes Sense for Your Situation
A few honest questions tend to sort this out faster than a spec sheet will.
What type of seizures do you actually have? If they’re primarily tonic-clonic, both devices below are built for exactly that. If your seizures are focal, absence, or otherwise non-convulsive, neither device is designed to catch them reliably, and the honest answer may be that a dedicated device isn’t the right tool for your situation at all, regardless of what the marketing implies.
When do your seizures tend to happen? If nighttime is your highest-risk window, which it is for many people with epilepsy given how much SUDEP risk clusters around sleep, NightWatch+’s no-subscription, sensor-plus-bedside-alarm design is worth a serious look, though its current US clearance is limited to ages four to sixteen. If your risk is spread across the day or you need something you can wear out in the world, a wrist-worn, app-connected option like EpiMonitor fits that need better.
What’s the real budget, including the parts that aren’t the sticker price? EpiMonitor’s lower upfront cost comes with a permanent monthly bill that adds up over a year or two; NightWatch+’s higher upfront cost is a one-time payment with nothing recurring. Neither is objectively cheaper. It depends on how long you expect to use it and whether an ongoing subscription is a burden or a non-issue for your household.
Who needs to be alerted, and how far away are they? A phone-dependent system reaches a caregiver anywhere there’s cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. A bedside alarm station reaches whoever’s in the house, or close enough to hear it. If your caregiver sleeps down the hall, that difference may not matter. If they’re at work or asleep in another building entirely, it matters quite a bit.
None of these devices, including the one I helped a family obtain years ago through the nonprofit work I describe in Still Walking, replace a documented seizure safety plan, a conversation with your neurologist, or the people in your life who already know what to do. They add a layer. A meaningful one, for the right seizure type and the right situation, but a layer, not a replacement.
How the Two Current Options Compare
| Device | Detection Method | FDA Status (US) | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EpiMonitor (Empatica) | Wrist-worn; motion and physiological signal, day and night | Cleared, ages 6+ | $399 device + ~$17–$27/month subscription |
| NightWatch+ (LivAssured) | Upper-arm sensor + bedside alarm station; heart rate and motion, nighttime only | Cleared, ages 4–16 | ~$1,990 one-time, no subscription |
Pricing and clearance status current as of August 2026. This is a fast-moving category — confirm current specs directly with the manufacturer before purchasing.
FAQ
Can these devices detect a seizure and call 911 automatically?
No. Both devices discussed here alert designated caregivers, not emergency services directly. That’s a meaningful difference from Apple Watch Fall Detection, which can call 911 on its own if you’re unresponsive. If you want a device that can reach emergency services directly, that’s still the territory of the smartwatch, not these dedicated tools.
Will insurance cover the cost?
Sometimes, partially, and it varies a great deal by plan and insurer. Some users have had success seeking reimbursement using durable medical equipment billing codes, but neither manufacturer bills insurance directly, so expect to pay upfront and pursue reimbursement afterward if you choose to try.
Do I need my neurologist’s approval to get one?
Both devices discussed here require a prescription in the US, so yes, a conversation with your neurologist is a necessary first step, not an optional one.
Is a dedicated device better than just wearing an Apple Watch?
Better at one specific job, yes, catching a tonic-clonic seizure through its actual movement and physiological signature rather than a hard fall. But a smartwatch does things these devices don’t, including general fall detection, a visible Medical ID, and the ability to call emergency services directly. For many people the honest answer is both, not either-or, the same conclusion I landed on in the hub post for medical IDs and smartwatches.
A general-purpose tool that’s always with you beats a purpose-built tool sitting in a drawer. But for the specific danger of a tonic-clonic seizure no one’s there to see, purpose-built is worth the extra look.
If you’re weighing this decision, start with the honest inventory: what type of seizures you have, when they tend to happen, and who needs to know when one starts. That’s a more useful starting point than any spec sheet, including the one above.
Want the complete Epilepsy Support Guide?
Seizure types and triggers, medication management, SUDEP awareness, seizure first aid, and how to find quality medical care, all in one free guide.
Related Reading
Medical ID Bracelets vs. Smartwatches: Which One is Best for You? — Where medical IDs and general-purpose smartwatches fit into a seizure safety plan.
Reducing Your SUDEP Risk: What the Evidence Actually Supports — The fuller picture of what actually moves the needle on SUDEP risk.
Natural Vitality Advocate — More articles on health, healing, and clear thinking.
Sources & References
FDA 510(k) Clearance — EpiMonitor (K232915) — FDA clearance summary for Empatica’s EpiMonitor system.
FDA 510(k) Clearance — NightWatch+ US (K243199) — FDA clearance summary for LivAssured’s NightWatch+ US.
Empatica — EpiMonitor — Manufacturer specifications, pricing, and subscription plans.
LivAssured — NightWatch+ US — Manufacturer specifications and US clearance details.
Medscape — Mixed Results for FDA-Cleared Wearable Device’s Seizure Detection — 2026 real-world epilepsy monitoring unit study.
Brain & Life (American Academy of Neurology) — Smartwatch App Detects Seizures With Low Rate of False Alarms — May 2026 study published in Neurology Open Access.
Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy — Non-Electroencephalogram-Based Seizure Detection Devices — Systematic review of wearable device sensitivity and false alarm rates.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Device pricing, FDA clearance status, and specifications are subject to change and should be independently confirmed with the manufacturer and your healthcare provider before purchase. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or safety plan. David Julian, Natural Vitality Advocate, is not a licensed medical professional. Views expressed are personal and based on lived experience and do not guarantee specific outcomes. David Julian is not affiliated with Natural Vitality or NaturalVitality.com.