Avoid fasting the night before or the day of the procedure. Children may not be allowed to sleep for more than 5 to 7 hours the night before. 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. Some EEG tests require that you sleep through the procedure, and some do not. Follow any directions your healthcare provider gives you about reducing your sleep the night before the test. Avoid consuming any food or drinks containing caffeine for 8 to 12 hours before the test. 
Do not stop using medicines without first consulting your healthcare provider.
Discontinue using medicines that may interfere with the test if your healthcare provider has directed you to do so. 
Tell your healthcare provider of all medicines (prescription and over-the-counter) and herbal supplements that you are taking. Do not use any hair care products, such as hairspray or gels. Wash your hair with shampoo, but do not use a conditioner the night before the test. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear. You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the procedure. Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you and you can ask questions. Below is a list of common steps that you may be asked to do. Oily hair or the presence of hair sprayĪsk your healthcare provider to tell you what you should do before your test. Drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, cola, and tea (while these drinks can occasionally alter the EEG results, this almost never interferes significantly with the interpretation of the test). Lights, especially bright or flashing ones. Body or eye movement during the tests (but this will rarely, if ever, significantly interfere with the interpretation of the test). Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) caused by fasting. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.Ĭertain factors or conditions may interfere with the reading of an EEG test. Other risks may be present, depending on your specific medical condition. If you do get a seizure, your healthcare provider will treat it immediately. This is due to the flashing lights or the deep breathing that may be involved during the test. In rare instances, an EEG can cause seizures in a person with a seizure disorder. In addition, there is no risk of getting an electric shock. The EEG has been used for many years and is considered a safe procedure. There may be other reasons for your healthcare provider to recommend an EEG. The EEG may also be used to monitor blood flow in the brain during surgical procedures. The EEG may also be used to determine the overall electrical activity of the brain (for example, to evaluate trauma, drug intoxication, or extent of brain damage in comatose patients). The test can also be used to diagnose other disorders that influence brain activity, such as Alzheimer's disease, certain psychoses, and a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. People with lesions of their brain, which can result from tumors or stroke, may have unusually slow EEG waves, depending on the size and the location of the lesion. When epilepsy is present, seizure activity will appear as rapid spiking waves on the EEG. The EEG is used to evaluate several types of brain disorders. These studies measure electrical activity in your brain in response to stimulation of sight, sound, or touch. He or she pays special attention to the basic waveform, but also examines brief bursts of energy and responses to stimuli, such as flashing lights.Įvoked potential studies are related procedures that also may be done. Your healthcare provider then interprets the reading.ĭuring an EEG, your healthcare provider typically evaluates about 100 pages, or computer screens, of activity. The charges are amplified and appear as a graph on a computer screen, or as a recording that may be printed out on paper. The electrodes detect tiny electrical charges that result from the activity of your brain cells. 
During the procedure, electrodes consisting of small metal discs with thin wires are pasted onto your scalp. An EEG is a test that detects abnormalities in your brain waves, or in the electrical activity of your brain.
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