Another name for EEG is brain wave test. Normal brain waves occur at a rate of up to 30 per second, but in someone with epilepsy, for example, the EEG may show bursts of abnormal discharges in the form of spikes and sharp wave patterns.
Suspected epilepsy is the most common reason for an EEG. Other conditions that may be diagnosed with the aid of an EEG include:. An abnormal EEG doesn't automatically mean that you, for example, have epilepsy. The EEGs of babies and young children can often record irregular patterns that don't mean anything, or the irregularities may flag previously diagnosed neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy.
On the other hand, a normal EEG doesn't rule out epilepsy either. Sometimes, a person with epilepsy will only display abnormal brain waves during a seizure. Your hair must be thoroughly clean, but most importantly dry. A number of electrodes are applied to your scalp generally between 8 and 23, depending on the condition under investigation.
A gel may be applied to help the electrodes to stick firmly in place and improve recordings. You will need to lie quietly to avoid any electrical interference from muscle contractions. Sometimes, you may be asked by the doctor to open and close your eyes and to breathe heavily. Lights may be flashed before your eyes. An EEG usually takes from 30 to 60 minutes to complete. Sometimes, a sleep recording is also required. If the patient is a baby or young child, it helps if the parents delay the child's nap until the time of the EEG.
Sedatives medications to help sleep may be needed if sleep won't come naturally during the test. Some EEG testing centres may record a video of your tests to help with diagnosis. Once the test is complete, the electrodes are removed and you are allowed to get up.
The results need to be analysed at a later stage by a neurologist a doctor who specialises in brain disorders. Generally, if there is no abnormality to the brain's electrical activity, the pattern of 'peaks and valleys' charted by the EEG should be fairly regular. If excited, the pattern will show considerable variation, and any departure from the regular pattern can indicate abnormalities. EEG is a safe test with no side effects.
However, a person with epilepsy may experience a seizure, triggered by the various stimuli used in the procedure, including the flashing lights. It may suggest that this area is involved in some way and that further testing may be needed to know for sure. How can I learn more about EEGs? Ask for examples, pictures, or whatever may help you understand what it means. The words used in reports can be very confusing. Ask what the next step should be.
Does the initial test results suggest other tests are needed? Or is this enough to say you should be taking medication or may need a change in treatment?
Visit the Epilepsy Foundation Connect Forums. Visit Thursday nights from 8 to 9pm east coast time to ask questions and find resources from a Community Moderator.
Hope this helps! Related Links:. Diagnosing Seizures and Epilepsy. The neurologist also considers several other types of information. Based on all of this information, your neurologist may diagnose seizures with confidence even though the result of your EEG was normal. The normal EEG does not mean that the neurologist was wrong in saying that you had a seizure. Keep taking the seizure medicine that was prescribed.
If you have a normal EEG and stay free of seizures for two years or more, the neurologist may suggest that you can stop taking it! Donate to Support Our Mission. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. Skip to main content.
What If It's Normal? A normal EEG does not mean that you did not have a seizure. Approximately one-half of all EEGs done for patients with seizures are interpreted as normal. Even someone who has seizures every week can have a normal EEG test.
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