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EEG Seizure Disorder

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a medical test that is performed by doctors and used to diagnose seizure disorder in patients. The purpose of an EEG is to record brain wave patterns to help diagnose and to understand epilepsy and/or other seizure disorders through a group of electrodes that are attached to the scalp to record brain activity. Because normal brain function creates a recognizable pattern of signals from the electrodes, abnormal patterns on an EEG allow doctors to diagnose seizure disorder.

  1. What Is Seizure Disorder?

    • Seizures occur when the electrical system within the brain malfunctions, causing brain cells to keep firing in an uncontrolled manner. Seizure disorders come in two forms: recurrent and nonrecurrent. Nonrecurrent seizures occur as a result of a specific isolated incident and/or have a distinct cause. A head trauma or an illness are just two likely triggers. Known as epilepsy, a recurrent seizure disorder features a pattern of sudden, intermittent, brief attacks caused by the excessive discharge of neurons in the brain. Attacks generally last between one to two minutes, although some may last longer and confusion may persist for a period of time following the seizure.

    When Is an EEG Used?

    • Doctors use an EEG when they have reason to suspect that a patient has a seizure disorder. The doctor usually makes this determination based on the patient's medical history, a physical exam and a blood test. An EEG is a reliable method of conclusively diagnosing a seizure disorder, by allowing the doctor to witness the brain patterns causing any abnormal activity.

    What Is an EEG?

    • An EEG machine includes a computer, electrodes and wires. Tiny wires from the computer end in electrodes that are attached to the head. The electrical signals from the brain are recorded on the machine and display on a screen as wavy lines. Doctors and technicians can compare these to normal brain wave patterns, and look for deviations in the signals in an individual test.

    Undergoing an EEG

    • An EEG is not an uncomfortable test, although it can feel strange to have electrodes attached to the head. There are no shocks or other feelings administered to the scalp. However, a doctor may want to try to induce seizure while the electrodes are attached to the brain to help to diagnose a disorder. Seizures can usually be triggered by flashing lights and when the body is under some stress, which they test for by having a patient do some heavy breathing, or hold their breath and emit it in intermittent gasps.

    Risks

    • There are no known side effects of an EEG test. The procedure is a safe and reliable method of diagnosing seizure disorder.

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