Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Overview
EEG stands for electroencephalogram. An electroencephalogram is a tool used to map the electrical activity of the brain.
Broken down, it literally means “electrical brain picture”
electro=electrical
encephalo=brain
gram=picture
Whatever you are doing anytime, whether you are asleep or fully awake, your brain cells communicate through electrical impulses.
An EEG measures the electrical impulses in your brain by using electrodes on wires that are attached to your scalp. The electrodes transfer information from your brain to a machine that measures and records the data.
By attaching electrodes to various spots on your scalp, the EEG can read these electrical impulses and send them to a computer that can present them in real-time. It is similar to voice or polygraph recording in that it produces a series of wavy lines. Analyzing brain wave patterns will allow you to detect if any abnormalities are present.
An EEG can expose any current or potential problems with brain function. For instance, seizures caused by epilepsy will produce brainwave patterns, before, during, and after the seizure. An EEG is a great tool for the diagnosis and treatment of all kinds of neurological conditions, be it epilepsy, brain injury, or any other neurological dysfunction.
Undergoing an EEG is a great way to get information about what is happening in your brain at a given time. It is non-invasive, painless, easy-to-perform, and relatively inexpensive.
What Conditions Can An EEG Detect?
Depending on your condition, whether from an injury or an ongoing problem, the electrical activity of the brain can reveal patterns associated with certain brain disorders. By interpreting an EEG, a physician can scrutinize brain wave patterns to check for the presence of various conditions. These include:
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head or neck injuries
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Post-whiplash headache
- Sleeping disorders
- Alzheimer’s
- Stroke
- Brain Tumor
- Dementia
The EEG can be useful in many ways. It can be used to monitor activity during procedures and surgery. It may also be used to evaluate trauma or the extent of brain damage in comatose patients.
Potential Risks
There are no risks associated with an EEG. The test is painless and safe.
If you have a medical condition that may be compromised by an EEG, you should not undergo one. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor when considering an EEG.
Some EEGs include lights or other stimuli that may act as epilepsy triggers. Stimuli, such as strobe lights or rapid breathing may be added to help induce any abnormalities. This can, in rare cases, induce a seizure. However, the technician performing the EEG is trained to safely manage any situation that may arise.
The EEG has been around for decades and is widely accepted as a safe procedure. The test causes little to no discomfort.
How To Prepare
There are a few little things that you should do or not do before the EEG. You will naturally need to consult with your healthcare provider in any case, but here are some common things to consider before undergoing the EEG.
Discuss any medications or supplements you are taking. Your physician will know which ones may interfere with the test results and how best to proceed.
Wash your hair the night before but do not use a conditioner or any other styling products. If you have hair extensions, they should be removed.
Stay away from caffeine at least 8 hours before the EEG.
Sometimes you will need to sleep during the test. If it is a sleeping EEG, you will need to hold off on a full night’s sleep. This usually means a maximum of 4-5 hours of sleep the night before the test.
Eat normally before the test. Low blood sugar may influence the results.
Procedure
An EEG procedure may vary depending on your condition. Nevertheless, it is a very simple, straightforward procedure.
Your EEG test will be administered by a specialized technician. It can take place just about anywhere the patient feels comfortable. A doctor’s office, an examination table, or a hospital suite are typical places, as they are convenient.
An EEG test will usually last one to two hours. However, if it is a sleeping test, you will need to be monitored for a longer period of time, sometimes up to 24 hours.
The EEG technician will have you lie down on a bed or recline in a chair and get comfortable.
Your head will be measured and he/she will stake out the correct spots on your scalp for placing the electrodes. These spots will be scrubbed with cream in order to get the most accurate readings. A gel adhesive will be applied to each electrode and fixed to your scalp. The usual number of electrodes is between 16 and 25.
Once underway, the electrodes will begin sending electrical impulses from your brain waves to the recording machine. This machine will convert the impulses into visual patterns on a screen. Everything will be recorded for analysis.
Although you should relax and remain still for the majority of the test, you will be asked to do certain things while the test is in progress. Eye movements and breathing exercises are commonly used. You may be asked to look at flashing lights or pictures. You may also be required to reposition yourself. Everything you may be asked to do will be very simple. Keep in mind, the machine is only recording the activity of the brain and does not stimulate it.
Since very little electricity is needed, you should not feel any physical discomfort. It is a painless process.
In some cases, you may be sent home with an ambulatory EEG device for long-term monitoring.
What Happens After Your EEG?
Once the test is finished, the electrodes are removed and the gel washed off your scalp. Sometimes there is some leftover sticky gel that can be removed with a solvent like witch hazel or nail polish remover at home. You may need to wash your hair again at home.
If sedatives were required for the test, you will be required to rest until the sedatives have worn off. If this is the case, you should have someone else drive you home.
You also should not drive yourself home if it was a sleeping test, or a very long test requiring an overnight stay.
You can resume taking any medications that your physician had you stop specifically for the test.
Again, your physician should let you know of any special instructions unique to your condition.
EEG Results
A neurologist will analyze the EEG results, closely scrutinizing your brain wave patterns.
After they have been analyzed, they will be sent to your physician who will further review the results with you.
The EEG will look like a series of wavy lines. The lines on the screen will appear differently depending on whether you were asleep or awake, but your physician can identify normal patterns of brain activity in either state.
If the normal pattern of brain waves was interrupted, it could be an indication of epilepsy or another brain disorder. The EEG will reveal if the frequency of waves or patterns is normal. Normal activity typically means you don’t have a brain disorder.
However, an abnormal EEG alone doesn’t mean you have epilepsy.
Abnormal results can be due to many things, like migraines, sleep disorders, or head injury.
The test just records what is happening in your brain at that moment. Your physician will perform further tests to get a diagnosis.
It’s essential that you discuss your test results with your physician. Before you review the results, it may be helpful to write down any questions you might want to ask. Ask questions if there’s anything that you don’t understand.
Schedule A Consultation
If you or a loved one has experienced seizures or suffered a brain injury, an EEG can be very useful in diagnosing the cause of the symptoms. There are a variety of brain disorders, especially epilepsy, that should be diagnosed as soon as possible. Brain disorders can lead to life-long complications, disability, and death if left untreated.
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