Routine | Sleep Deprived | Long-term Video | Ambulatory
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a safe painless procedure that uses a machine to translate the electrical activity of the brain into a series of wavy lines. It is used to find out if there is any abnormality in the electrical function of the brain.
The EEG machine can detect electrical abnormalities in the brain but can not read your mind. Your head will be measured and marked with a wax pen to identify the locations to place electrodes. Electrodes or leads are small metal disks that are attached to your scalp with a special paste or glue. Depending on the possible diagnosis needed, the technologist may ask you to breathe deeply through your mouth for a short time, which can produce a slightly dizzy feeling or numbness in the hands or feet. This will go away when you begin to breath normally again. A strobe light may be flashed into your eyes, or you may be asked to open, and close your eyes a few times. You may be asked to sleep or to do other simple tasks. We do these individualized tasks to help diagnose your specific problem.
Routine EEG
Total preparation and test duration: approximately 2 hours
Preparation instructions:
- You may eat on a normal schedule. However, do not consume any caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate) after midnight.
- Hair should be washed on the night before or the morning of the test and left clean and dry. It is also helpful if hair is unbraided.
- Do not use hair sprays, conditioners, oils, setting gels, or chemicals on your hair the day of the test.
Sleep deprived EEG
Total preparation and test duration: approximately 2 hours
Preparation instructions:
- Go to bed 2 hours later than normal the night before the test. Get up 2 hours earlier than normal. This is so you will obtain natural sleep during the EEG recording.
- You may eat on a normal schedule. However, do not consume any caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate) after midnight.
- Hair should be washed on the night before or the morning of the test and left clean and dry. It is also helpful if hair is unbraided.
- Do not use hair sprays, conditioners, oils, setting gels, or chemicals on your hair the day of the test.
Long-term Video EEG
Preparation time: 45–60 minutes
Test duration: 24–72 hours
Preparation instructions:
- You may eat on a normal schedule. However, do not consume any caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate) after midnight.
- Hair should be washed on the night before or the morning of the test and left clean and dry. It is also helpful if hair is unbraided.
- Do not use hair sprays, conditioners, oils, setting gels, or chemicals on your hair the day of the test. If the physician orders a sleep deprived study:
- Go to bed 2 hours later than normal the night before the test. Get up 2 hours earlier than normal. This is so you will obtain natural sleep during the EEG recording.
Ambulatory EEG
Preparation time: 60–90 minutes
Test duration: 24–72 hours
Preparation instructions:
- You may eat on a normal schedule. However, do not consume any caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate) after midnight.
- Hair should be washed on the night before or the morning of the test and left clean and dry. It is also helpful if hair is unbraided.
- Do not use hair sprays, conditioners, oils, setting gels, or chemicals on your hair the day of the test.
- You will leave the lab with the electrodes still attached to the scalp, and with the head wrapped. The technician will give you specific instructions you will need to follow throughout the duration of this test.