EEG for dd - what to expect?

[DelGirl]

dd (3) has had a few febrile convulsions and a couple of 'other' fits together with what seems to be absences. The paed has booked an appt now for an EEG on Sept 1st. What should I expect, anyone know? I was feeling ok about it all, I think because she had about 3 fits in the early part of the year but no visible fits since about March so am a bit calmer now but having received this letter, it has made me a bit

tia

.

Hi DelGirl, I don't know anything about EEGs for medical purposes, but I used to do EEGs on babies for research when I worked as a research assistant.

She will wear something that looks a bit like this of this. The technician will put a kind of gel under the electrodes (they are call electrodes but there is no current going to the patient, the electrodes are measuring electrical signals from the brain). The process may take a while to set up so she may want a book or a magazine to keep her occupied. I'm not sure what tests they will do but I just wanted to reassure you it won't hurt and shouldn't even be uncomfortable, boring if anything.

I'm sure someone else will come along who knows more. Good luck and I hope DD is ok.

They will part sections of her hair and gel small electrodes to her scalp. This can take a little while so they usually get you to read her a story, or they may have a DVD for her to watch.

Then they will take the reading for a while, again whilst she's playing, reading, watching TV. Then they take the electrodes off and you can take her home! You will need to wash her hair that night but the gel is water based and washes out easily.

thanks people, that sounds ok I suppose but he did mention something about blowing on a windmill to induce a fit? Not pleasant and I wondered if it was distressing for them iyswim?

My dd was observed for about 45 minutes; she had to breathe deeply for some of the time, also had the flashing lights to see if her epilepsy is photosensitive. Results all came back clear, but as riven says, the EEG only records what is happening during the period observed, so be prepared for the fact that it won't necessarily tell you anything specific.