The test is limited in that it shows only brain wave activity and cannot tell you if you have suffered from any brain damage or injury in the past.ĭuring the test, the doctors may ask you to breathe deeply for several minutes or to look at a strobe light, both of which can increase the odds that you will have seizure activity during the test. There are different types of seizures, including absence seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and myoclonic seizures which have distinctive brain wave patterns. The sleep deprived EEG shows which areas of the brain are involved in seizure activity and may also be able to tell what type of seizure you have. Even if you don’t have a seizure during this test, it may reveal abnormal patterns of brain wave activity common in people who have a seizure disorder even when an actual seizure is not present. It may also precipitate seizure activity that can be picked up on a computer monitor showing you have epilepsy. The sleep deprived EEG brings about a state of sleepiness that can show whether or not there is epileptic activity in your brain. You can’t sleep before a sleep-deprived EEG test because when a person is sleep-deprived, it is more likely that they will show abnormal spikes indicating the presence of epilepsy.
The difference between a standard EEG and a sleep-deprived EEG is that you will be asked not to sleep for a period of time before you have the test so that you are sleep-deprived.
It is similar to a standard EEG test in that you are hooked up to scalp electrodes that record your brain’s wave patterns. Perhaps one of the best tests is called a sleep deprived EEG test. It takes up to two hours to do this test and you can go home right after the test or when you awaken on your own the next morning. You might be allowed to fall asleep on your own or the doctor may order a sleeping pill for you. During the test, you sleep at a sleep laboratory or hospital. Some people only show abnormalities in the EEG patterns during sleep and a sleep EEG test will pick this up. In this type of test, the electrodes are again placed on the scalp but you have the actual test only while you sleep. One type of an EEG test is called a Sleep EEG Test. How long does an EEG test take?Īn EEG Test takes only about an hour and a half, it is not always possible to find abnormal signals during that time and different types of EEG testing may be warranted. A seizure shows up as a burst of erratic electrical activity within a portion of the brain. Sometimes, you will be lucky enough to have a seizure while you are hooked up to an EEG machine. The electrical signals are analyzed by a computer to see if there are specific abnormal spikes in the brain waves that show the presence of a source of seizure activity within your brain. The electrodes record the tiny electrical signals given out by the brain on a continuous. What is an EEG TestĪn EEG test is a test in which electrodes are placed on your scalp in a painless fashion. In some situations, an ordinary EEG test might be enough. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.If you or your doctor thinks you might have a seizure disorder like epilepsy, you might need a specific test called Sleep Deprived EEG Test to determine whether or not this is the case. By using this Site you agree to the following Terms and Conditions. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site.
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