Why get eeg

Do not stop using medicines without first consulting your healthcare provider. Avoid consuming any food or drinks containing caffeine for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Follow any directions your healthcare provider gives you about reducing your sleep the night before the test.

Some EEG tests require that you sleep through the procedure, and some do not. If the EEG is to be done during sleep, adults may not be allowed to sleep more than 4 or 5 hours the night before the test.

Children may not be allowed to sleep for more than 5 to 7 hours the night before. Avoid fasting the night before or the day of the procedure. Low blood sugar may influence the results. Based on your medical condition, your healthcare provider may request other specific preparations. What happens during an EEG?

Generally, an EEG procedure follows this process: You will be asked to relax in a reclining chair or lie on a bed. Between 16 and 25 electrodes will be attached to your scalp with a special paste, or a cap containing the electrodes will be used. You will be asked to close your eyes, relax, and be still. Once the recording begins, you will need to remain still throughout the test. Your healthcare provider may monitor you through a window in an adjoining room to observe any movements that can cause an inaccurate reading, such as swallowing or blinking.

The recording may be stopped periodically to let you rest or reposition yourself. After your healthcare provider does the initial recording while you are at rest, he or she may test you with various stimuli to produce brain wave activity that does not show up while you are resting.

For example, you may be asked to breathe deeply and rapidly for 3 minutes, or you may be exposed to a bright flashing light. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. This information is not intended to replace the medical advice of your health care provider. At Mayfield, we work with diagnostic imaging providers in the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky region to obtain images of the brain and spine and interpret them with expertise and care.

Patients and referring physicians can rest assured that we will lay the groundwork for a diagnosis of utmost accuracy.

To make an appointment call Make an Appointment. How does an EEG work? Figure 1. To help the sensors stick to your scalp more easily, you should make sure your hair is clean and dry before arriving for your appointment, and avoid using products such as hair gel and wax. You might want to bring a hairbrush or comb with you, as your hair may be a bit messy when the test is finished.

Some people bring a hat to cover their hair until they can wash it at home afterwards. There are several different ways an EEG recording can be taken.

The clinical neurophysiologist will explain the procedure to you and can answer any questions you have. You'll also be asked whether you give permission consent for the various parts of the test to be carried out. Before the test starts, your scalp will be cleaned and about 20 small sensors called electrodes will be attached using a special glue or paste.

These are connected by wires to an EEG recording machine. Routine EEG recordings usually take 20 to 40 minutes, although a typical appointment will last about an hour, including some preparation time at the beginning and some time at the end. During the test, you'll be asked to rest quietly and open or close your eyes from time to time. In most cases, you'll also be asked to breathe in and out deeply called hyperventilation for a few minutes. At the end of the procedure, a flashing light may be placed nearby to see if this affects your brain activity.

These lines allow doctors to quickly assess whether there are abnormal patterns. Irregularities may be a sign of seizures or other brain disorders. EEGs have been used since to detect problems in the electrical activity of the brain that are associated with certain brain disorders. The measurements given by an EEG are used to confirm or rule out various conditions, including:. When someone is in a coma , an EEG may be performed to determine their level of brain activity.

The test can also be used to monitor activity during brain surgery. EEG is usually painless and very safe. If an EEG does not produce any abnormalities, stimuli such as strobe lights, or rapid breathing may be added to help induce any abnormalities.

The technician performing the EEG is trained to safely manage any situation that might occur. Hyperventilation is also commonly induced during an EEG to produce abnormalities. Some people may not be able to hyperventilate safely, such as people with a history of stroke , asthma , or sickle cell anemia. The person responsible for interpreting your EEG will take these movements into account. They include:.

Other factors that can influence your EEG reading include:. An EEG measures the electrical impulses in your brain by using several electrodes attached to your scalp. An electrode is a conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves. The electrodes transfer information from your brain to a machine that measures and records the data.