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EEG and NEUROLOGY CLINIC
EEG and Telehealth
At Melbourne Neurodiagnostics, we offer specialised EEG services to diagnose and monitor neurological disorders in patients across the lifespan.
Our expert Neurologists also provide Telehealth consultations on request.
Doctors will often request a routine in-clinic EEG to evaluate neurological conditions such as:
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Seizures & Epilepsy
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Sleep Disorders/Nocturnal events
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Abnormal Movements
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Unexplained Loss of Consciousness
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Clearance for driving after an event
Prolonged EEG testing, either ambulatory or video EEG, is often requested for
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Diagnosing the basis of episodic neurological dysfunction;
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Characterising the nature of a patient’s epileptic seizures;
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Localising seizures in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy, with a view to surgery; or
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Assessing treatment response where subclinical seizures are suspected.
Awake EEG Standard EEG recording brain waves during wakefulness. The EEG is recorded while the patient rests in a recliner. Hyperventilation is done to induce absence seizures. Intermittent flashing lights are used to induce abnormal brain waves.
Sleep EEG EEG recording brain waves during wakefulness and sleep, often recommended for certain conditions. Sometimes doctors will request that an EEG is performed while a patient is asleep. If your child is young and still having morning or afternoon naps, skip the nap before the EEG. For older patients, you will be given instructions to follow when you make the appointment. It can be often difficult to achieve sleep in older children and adults in a clinic setting. In such situations, an overnight ambulatory EEG should be considered. Please do not let your child sleep on the way to your EEG appointment. Sedation (sleep medications) is not used to help patients get to sleep for an EEG.
Ambulatory 24hr EEG Overnight continuous EEG recording at home to monitor brain waves over 24 hours. An Ambulatory EEG is one where patients get the EEG electrodes placed on their heads by the EEG scientist and after a few checks, they are sent home. The EEG is recorded at home, often overnight, to record sleep and any nocturnal events. There is no video with an ambulatory set up. The patient comes back to clinic the next day to get the electrodes removed.
Home Video EEG Monitoring (HVEM) Continuous EEG and video recording at home to monitor brain waves over 48-72 hours and capture events for characterisation. A home video EEG monitoring (HVEM) is similar to an ambulatory EEG, but with additional video to record the typical events or seizures while at home. HVEM records for longer periods, typically over 2 or 3 nights at home. The EEG scientist will send you home with instructions for care and also a seizure diary to mark the events.
What to expect with an EEG
An EEG is not harmful. There are no X-rays or injections and there is no risk of electric shock. There will be sticky electrodes applied to the scalp. This does not hurt and the patient will not feel anything other than their scalp and hair being touched. There are no side effects from an EEG.
EEG Process
EEG tests follow a structured process to ensure accurate results:
Preparing for the EEG
Please ensure the following steps are followed by the patient undergoing the EEG test: - Wash the patient’s hair the night before the EEG. They need to have clean, dry hair with no products applied (e.g. oil, mousse or gel). - If head lice is an issue, this should be treated to ensure the hair is free from lice prior to the test. - If the patient has recently had chicken pox, they must be completely better in order for the EEG to occur. - Ideally, children will need to be fairly still during the recording. Our EEG scientists are experienced in helping children of all ages to relax, and distractions such as toys and iPads are encouraged. Younger children may benefit from dummies, bottles and other comforters, so remember to bring these to the appointment. - If your child has special needs or you think they may not be able to cooperate with the procedure, please contact our clinic to discuss your concerns and the best course of action. If the patient is prescribed an emergency rescue medication for seizure management (like Midazolam), then please carry it with you to the EEG appointment if possible.
Before the EEG
If the patient has seizures during specific situations (e.g. during sleep) please speak to your doctor or our clinic staff about the implications for the EEG recording. - It may be possible to provoke a seizure and record an EEG during the seizure episode, which is beneficial as this is when the most useful information can be found. - Flashing lights can often trigger seizures. If this is the case with the patient or the accompanying carer, please inform the EEG scientist prior to the test so that they can take special precautions during the test. - Before testing, the EEG scientist will ask a few medical details even though you may have already given this information to your doctor.
During the EEG
We follow standard protocol for performing the EEG test. A carer or accompanying person is welcome to stay in the recording room during the EEG if they wish. Babies and young children can be held in their parents’ lap during the test. It is important to arrange for another adult to look after any other children while the recording is being done as they cannot stay in the room. - The patient will sit in a recliner chair and infants will be held by the parents. - After explaining the procedure, the EEG scientist will measure, apply electrodes and record the EEG. - A video is recorded in case a seizure episode occurs. This gives the neurologist an accurate visual record along with the EEG recording. If no events are recorded, the video is deleted.