Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An EEG (electroencephalogram) measures brain’s activity. Brain activity helps clinician diagnose and monitor brain-related conditions like epilepsy/seizure. Your healthcare provider may request an EEG if you have symptoms such as seizures or confusion, starring spells, zoning out. An EEG is safe and painless.

What’s an EEG?

An EEG (electroencephalogram) measures and records brain’s electrical signals through the intact skin by using electrodes on the scalp. During an EEG, a technician places small metal disks (electrodes) on your scalp. The electrodes attach to a machine that records information about your brain’s activity. Brain activity can help your clinician diagnose and monitor conditions that affect your brain. American Wellness Center in Dubai Healthcare City has the most advanced equipment required for EEGs.

Why is an EEG performed?

Most commonly, we use an EEG to check for seizure activity related to epilepsy. EEGs can also help monitor brain health conditions or find out what’s causing certain symptoms.  EEGs can also check the status of brain-related conditions such as:

• Dementia
• Brain injury
• Infections
• Tumors
• Behavior disorder
• Attention Disorder

EEGs help diagnose the causes of symptoms such as:

• Confusion
• Fainting (syncope)
• Memory Loss
• Seizures
• Epilepsy

Who performs an EEG?

At American Wellness Center in Dubai Healthcare City we have highly trained EEG technician who performs the procedure.

How EEG works

Electrodes on your scalp measure electrical signals (impulses) as they travel between different brain areas. Electrodes are small removeable metal disks that are used to record electrical activity through scalp.

Electrodes attached to the scalp through wires can identify nerve signals or electrical impulses. EEG machine record these impulses and make available for the review at later stage by neurologist.

The EEG machine records the impulses with lines (traces) that show brain wave patterns in different areas. The brain has specific wave patterns while you’re awake and or asleep. If you have a seizure, the wave patterns change accordingly.

Results and Follow-Up

Our highly qualified clinicians will review the brain wave patterns in the EEG recording. The test results describe patterns as normal or abnormal depending upon the wave pattern in different leads.  Our professionals will compile results and explain your EEG report  to you during your following appointment along with recommendations based on the test results and diagnosis.

There are several types of EEG tests:

• Routine EEG: Routine EEG scans can take 40 minutes. Your EEG technologist may ask you to breathe fast or look at flashing lights during the procedure.
• Prolonged EEG: A prolonged EEG test usually takes one hour and 15 minutes, but others  can last several days depending upon complexity of the nature of illness. A prolonged EEG gives your healthcare provider more information than a routine EEG. Your provider may use a prolonged EEG test to diagnose or manage seizures disorders. Prolonged EEGs usually video.
• Ambulatory EEG: Ambulatory EEGs last one to three days. Ambulatory EEGs take place at home or at an EEG monitoring unit. During an ambulatory EEG, electrodes connect to a small EEG recorder. You can do most of your daily activities while the machine tracks your brain activity. You or family member can press a button if you have a seizure or event that your healthcare provider is trying to capture.
• Video EEG: The technician makes a video recording of you during your EEG. Video recording helps your healthcare provider see and hear what you’re doing when you have a seizure or other brain event. Your provider may also call this test EEG monitoring, EEG telemetry or video EEG monitoring.
• Sleep EEG: A technician performs an EEG test while you sleep. Healthcare providers may order sleep EEGs if a routine EEG doesn’t offer enough information. You might have a sleep study to test for sleep disorders with a sleep disorders center.

How to prepare for an EEG?

• Wash your hair the night before your EEG. (Don’t use anything on it — like conditioner or styling product )
• Avoid food or drink with caffeine, like coffee, black tea or energy drinks, for eight hours before the test.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions, including any changes to medicine.

What should I expect during an EEG

• You will be positioned on a comfortable sofa.
• Our technician places electrodes on your scalp with glue or paste.
• You relax with your eyes either open or closed.
• You may look at a bright light or breathe differently to see if your brain has changes during these activation procedures
• If you have a seizure, there will be a recording/tracing in the EEG machine. 
• During routine EEGs, the technician will record for 40 minutes, and strive to obtain at least a portion of drowsiness or sleep. During an EEG that spans multiple hours, they strive to obtain a longer sleep recording and record the study for one hour and 15 minutes.
• During an ambulatory EEG, you usually go home and go about your usual activities. You carry or wear a portable EEG recorder for one to three days.

After an EEG

After your EEG, the technician will remove the electrodes and clean your scalp. You will get instructions about leaving clinic as per your situation and can go to your daily routine.

Are there side effects from an EEG?

Some people may feel dizzy during deep breathing during the EEG.

Its rare for someone to have a seizure during an EEG while shown the flashing lights which is reviewed in detail by the neurologist before prescribing the test.

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