@frankv
A transient alteration of awareness refers to a temporary change in a person's consciousness or ability to respond to their environment. In the context of epilepsy, this is most commonly associated with focal impaired awareness seizures (formerly called complex partial seizures).
Educating myself about epilepsy has been incredibly important in understanding my condition. It also helped me give more precise information to my doctor, which has been helpful in my treatment.
The Epilepsy Foundation - http://www.epilepsy.com - has been such a valuable resource for me. That's where I really learned to understand my Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I'd encourage anyone who's been diagnosed with epilepsy to take the time to learn about their specific condition – it makes such a difference!
Chris