CHILDREN
frequently asked questions for children
Does an EEG hurt? What should I tell my child?
There is no discomfort or pain with an EEG. When the technician comes to your house to start the test, the placement of the sensors can feel strange, but the test itself is painless. The sensors just record brain activity, and produce no sensation. Sometimes, a patient experiences temporary skin irritation, but that is rare and easily treated. During a prolonged period of wearing sensors, patients may experience mild discomfort, itching or headaches. This is normal and is not anything to be concerned about.
What is a Video Ambulatory EEG?
It is considered the Gold Standard for EEG testing—the best test you can take. A Video Ambulatory EEG shows the doctor any kind of events happening over the testing period (usually 24-72 hours) while your child is doing what he or she normally does. This test also gives your child’s neurologist a better understanding of what might happen while he or she sleeps.
Video tells your doctor a more complete story about any seizures, headaches or episodes your child may be having, because it records their behavior at the same time it is measuring brainwave activity.
A technician will come to your home for about two hours to set your child up for their EEG. The technician will use a special adhesive to attach the sensors to their scalp, and two video cameras—one in the bedroom, and one in the main activity/living area. The technician will also wrap your child’s head in gauze to help the sensors stay in place so you don’t have to do a second study. Your child can watch TV, play games, nap and read. Once setup is complete, your child will not be allowed to bathe for the duration of the test. Special instructions about bathing the night before are next.
How do I prepare my child for their EEG test?
• Wash their hair the night before
• Do not use any oils, gels, mousse, sprays or conditioner on their hair for 24 hours before the test
• Do not let them have caffeine for 8 hours before the test
• Don’t let your child wear anything that goes over their head; dress them in a front-button or zip-front shirt so they can easily undress for bed
• Sometimes, your doctor will need to evaluate your child’s sleep, so you may be asked to shorten the amount of sleep your child gets the night before the test
• The technician will give you an event button to push any time your child has any kind of event, headache or confusion episode, as well as a diary to fill out with the activities he or she does, like eating, taking medications, sleeping or napping. The more accurate the diary you keep, the more complete the test results will be.
• We give you a special solvent so you can remove the sensors from your child’s hair after the test is complete
How is Video EEG for a child different from an Adult Video EEG?
He or she will wear sensors painlessly attached to their scalp using a mild adhesive. The technician will wrap their head in gauze to secure the sensors in place for the duration of the exam.
Is there anything my child is NOT allowed to do during the testing?
Your child can maintain their usual level of activity, though avoid lots of caffeine for them, as well as any activity that will raise their heart rate, get their head wet, or make them sweat—but you can clean their skin with damp cloths.
No toys or electronics should interfere with the signal transmitted from the sensors to the recording device.