Associates in Neuroscience

EEGs (Electroencephalography)

Electroencephalography (EEG) is the most specific test for diagnosing epilepsy and other disorders because it records the electrical activity of the brain. It is a safe and painless procedure. At Associates in Neurosciences we provide both Routine EEGs which are completed in the comfort of our EEG suite as well as Ambulatory Video EEG which are setup at our EEG suite and then packed in a portable setup and the test is completed in the comfort of your own home.

Routine EEG Services

The Routine EEG Testing is the most common test for epilepsy and other disorders. The test records electrical activity of the brain and usually takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Sleep deprivation is an especially important part of this test. The patient will be required to sleep during this test and have dry clean hair. If the patient’s hair is not dry or clean then the appointment may be rescheduled. If you use hair lotions, conditioners, creams, oils, or gels then the 22 electrodes will not stick to the patient’s head.

For an appointment later in the day, it is recommended to sleep deprive the patient so that they will be tired by the the time of their test. It is extremely important that we get the patient to sleep during the EEG. For children, parent’s know their child’s sleep habits and schedule best; however, here are some general guidelines that can be used in children or adults:

For children under 2 years old, wake them one to two hours earlier than usual.
For children between 2 and 4, keep them up at least one to two hours past their bedtime and wake them for the day at least one to two hours earlier than normal.
For children between 5 and 12, keep them up until midnight and wake them up for the day at 6 a.m.
For 13 and older, stay awake until 2 a.m. and wake up for the day at 6 a.m.
If the child/adult takes a regular nap, you may wish to request an appointment that coincides with nap time.

Don’t let the patient sleep on the way to the appointment. You may want someone else in the car to keep them awake while you drive.

Video EEG Services

Video Ambulatory EEG is considered to be the Gold Standard for EEG testing. This allows the doctor to see any kind of events that you may have while you are conducting some of your normal daily activities. The neurologist will also get a better understanding of what might be happening at night while you sleep. The ambulatory EEG device will be worn for a specific amount of time that your neurologist believes will give him/her the best chance to find what they are looking for, usually 72 hours in most cases. Sleep deprivation is not required. Again there will be 22 electrodes placed on the head at the start of the test, so clean dry hair is required – free from any lotions, conditioners, creams, oils, or gels. The patient should wear comfortable clothing that is easily removed as it is not recommended to change clothes for the duration of the test as nothing can go over the patient’s head until the test is over. No hoodies without zippers or clothing without zippers/buttons if you want to be able to change clothing. The patient will also need to avoid rigorous activity during the test, anything that may cause sweating or for the EEG electrodes to become loose is prohibited. Should the EEG electrodes come loose or should the EEG equipment be frequently bumped it could cause the study to become unstable and the file will corrupt.

If you have any questions at all about the process or procedure for the test (even during your test) please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or the EEG technician and ask questions!