Medicalese is filled with acronyms — and these include commonly used tests. We’ve got EKGs (electrocardiogram) for the heart, US (ultrasound) testing for a variety of issues, and the CEM (contrast enhanced mammogram).
But are you familiar with what an EEG (electroencephalogram) is?
An EEG is a test that tells a neurologist a lot about your brain and a variety of conditions. It’s one of the advanced diagnostic tools that the Houston Neurological Institute team uses to gather important information on patients so they can create highly personalized treatment plans.
Our neurologists are fortunate to have the most advanced tools at their disposal so you can receive an accurate diagnosis and the proper care.
Our brain cells communicate through electrical impulses. An EEG measures this electrical activity in your brain, which appears as wavy lines on the EEG recording.
The test uncovers brain wave abnormalities, and this information contributes to your physician’s ability to diagnose a number of conditions.
When you undergo an EEG, your Houston Neurological Institute provider attaches electrodes to your scalp, which are connected to a device that amplifies and records your brain waves.
Getting an EEG is a comfortable, noninvasive experience, and a routine test takes only about 20-40 minutes.
Thanks to the availability of EEGs, your neurologist can interpret the data they provide to arrive at a diagnosis for multiple conditions, but they’re often used to diagnose the seizure disorder epilepsy, as well as to help a provider pinpoint what type of epilepsy a patient is experiencing.
Other conditions that an EEG can help diagnose include brain tumors, TBI (traumatic brain injury), Alzheimer’s disease, and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. The test can also uncover brain damage if an individual has suffered a stroke.
Although we’ve talked primarily about the EEG’s diagnostic capabilities, our neurologists also use it as a follow-up test for people living with epilepsy after they’ve started a treatment plan. Periodic EEGs can reveal how successful a treatment plan is, and assist a neurologist in determining whether a patient needs a change made to their treatment protocol.
Special types of EEGs also exist, and they provide more condition-specific information to your doctor as compared to a routine test. Below is a roundup of all EEG types we offer.
This is an EEG you receive here in our office, and sometimes you’re videotaped during the procedure. This is because the test’s data and video combine to give your doctor more information about your condition, so they can arrive at a more accurate diagnosis or better customize your treatment plan.
For example, you may be advised to get an EEG with video if you’re living with epilepsy. The video can capture any movements you make that might indicate a seizure.
After our technician places your electrodes, you lie back, and they administer the test and monitor its readings. It’s that simple.
This EEG involves a technician placing your electrodes here at our office, but then you return home and live normally, performing your typical routines.
Sometimes your neurologist may recommend that the ambulatory EEG be performed at a sleep center. Fortunately, Houston Neurological Institute has a sleep center at our office, so the experience can be as seamless as possible for patients.
An ambulatory EEG is able to gather data for a period of up to 72 hours.
This EEG tracks your brain wave activity while you sleep. It might be performed at our sleep center, and the test helps diagnose sleep disorders. However, your neurologist may also order one if you had a routine EEG that didn’t yield sufficient information.
The requirement for this test is for you to get little sleep prior to it. The data gleaned from this type of EEG can reveal brain wave activity that isn’t shown when you undergo a routine EEG.
This is a lengthier EEG, and it’s typically done at home or in our lab. Since this test takes more time than a routine EEG, it provides more brain wave activity data your neurologist can interpret.
The EEG is a valuable tool for neurologists, since it reveals critical information about a wide range of conditions in addition to epilepsy. The ability to fine tune the test in the ways we just described highlight its versatility and usefulness.
If your neurologist has recommended that you schedule an EEG, please contact our Pasadena or Pearland office to make an appointment, or schedule one online.
