Why do eeg

EEGs are safe and painless. Sometimes seizures are intentionally triggered in people with epilepsy during the test, but appropriate medical care is provided if needed. During an EEG , flat metal discs electrodes are attached to your scalp. In a high-density EEG , shown here, the electrodes are closely spaced together. The electrodes are connected to the EEG machine with wires. Some people wear an elastic cap fitted with electrodes, instead of having the adhesive applied to their scalps.

You'll feel little or no discomfort during an EEG. The electrodes don't transmit any sensations. They just record your brain waves. Here are some things you can expect to happen during an EEG :. A technician attaches discs electrodes to your scalp using a special adhesive. Sometimes, an elastic cap fitted with electrodes is used instead.

The electrodes are connected with wires to an instrument that amplifies the brain waves and records them on computer equipment. Once the electrodes are in place, an EEG typically takes up to 60 minutes. Testing for certain conditions require you to sleep during the test. In that case, the test can be longer. This test can record brain activity over several days, which increases the chances of catching seizure activity.

However, compared to inpatient video- EEG monitoring, an ambulatory EEG is not as good at determining the difference between epileptic seizures and nonepileptic seizures. The technician removes the electrodes or cap. If you had no sedative, you should feel no side effects after the procedure, and you can return to your normal routine. If you used a sedative, it will take time for the medication to begin to wear off. This means that you may need to have someone with you to take you home after the test.

A neurologist someone who specializes in nervous system disorders interprets the recordings from the EEG and then sends the results to your doctor. Your doctor may schedule an appointment to go over the test results with you. Electrical activity in the brain appears in an EEG as a pattern of waves. Different levels of consciousness, like sleeping and waking, have a specific range of frequencies of waves per second that are considered normal. The EEG will show if the frequency of waves or patterns is normal.

Before you review the results, it may be helpful to write down any questions you might want to ask. An EEG is a test that measures your brain waves and helps detect abnormal brain activity. The results of an EEG can be used to rule out or confirm conditions, such as epilepsy, a brain tumor, or a stroke. Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures.

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Each electrode is connected to an amplifier and EEG recording machine. The electrical signals from the brain are converted into wavy lines on a computer screen. Your child will be asked to lie still because movement can change the results. If the goal of the EEG is to mimic or cause the problem your child is having like seizures , he or she may be asked to look at a bright flickering light or breathe a certain way.

The health care provider performing the EEG will know your child's medical history and will be ready for any issues that could come up during the test. Most EEGs take about an hour.

If your child needs to sleep during it, the test will take longer. You might be able to stay in the room with your child, or you can step outside to a waiting area. An EEG isn't uncomfortable, and patients do not feel any shocks on the scalp or elsewhere. Still, having electrodes pasted to the scalp can be a little stressful for kids, as can lying still during the test.

A neurologist a doctor trained in nervous system disorders will read and interpret the results. Though EEGs vary in complexity and duration, results usually are available in a few days.