A 7-year-old girl is brought to the pediatric clinic by her teacher, who reports that she frequently “zones out” and “spaces out” during class. She stops talking mid-sentence, stares blankly for about 10 seconds, and then resumes her activities as if nothing happened. The teacher notes that the episodes last a few seconds and occur multiple times a day. The child’s parents state that she does not respond when spoken to during these episodes but resumes activity immediately afterward. They have not noticed any jerking movements or confusion following the spells. The child has no history of head trauma, fever, or focal neurological deficits. Her development and academic performance are normal, but she has been increasingly distracted in school. Physical Examination •Normal neurological exam •No focal deficits •No postictal confusion Clinical Workup •EEG: Shows a classic 3-Hz spike-and-wave pattern •Hyperventilation Test: Provokes a seizure episode What is the most likely diagnosis?
