EEG

[jenk1]

Got a letter this morning saying that DD has an appointment at Pendlebury childrens hospital for an EEG.
Presume this is because she has absences/fits regularly although the fits occour with temperatures.

Says in the letter "We will ask DD to breathe deeply and require her to be still"

Erm, dont think that is going to happen, she will absolutely freak out, she doesnt understand things like"breathe slowly" she,s only 2 and has delayed development and theres no way she will keep still, she screams if they try to take her temperature, the Paed thinks she is ASD as do we.

Do they make allowances for this?

I want to phone them up but dont want to appear stupid on the phone

Well, if it is a children's hospital you are in with a better chance. The most stressing bit seems to be putting the electrodes on: the faster that goes, the better. (Doesn't hurt, just messing around with your head - about 25 electrodes to glue on individually then a little hat thing over the top)

It's after that they will start the recording. She will sit on your lap while you play with her/read a book/whatever; mine usually forgets about the electrodes most of this time and is fairly calm though she does absent-mindedly try to take them off. I'm sure they'll just take the best readings they can get, but maybe if you think they should take an extra 10 mins to let her cool down that might be worth calling them for.

No-one has EVER attempted to get DD1 to "breathe deeply" in one of these things - and she's had 6 - any 2yo would find that difficult! I think from that point of view you have a "one size fits all" letter and I wouldn't take that bit seriously.

Don't rate their chances of getting any 2 year old to breathe deeply and stay still for long.......let alone one with special needs if my little one is anything to go by!
However if it's a children's hospital they'll be well used to it and will have all sorts of tricks and distractions I'm sure. No experience of EEG but other tests for my DD which have required Xrays or electrodes and agree with r3dh3d that they seem to manage and take the best reading they can.
Don't lose sleep over it - you've had so much on your plate recently. How's little jenk doing?

Thanks everyone for your replies.
That has put my mind at ease, i can just imagine the sort of scene when DD has her EEg, i hope they have earplugs.

reiver, little jenk(i like that!) is ok atm, she seems to be picking up, thanks for asking

When Ellie had hers they had a video on, I choose the Tweenies and she sat through it on my knee

No deep breathing to do though!! but she did have to sit reasonably still and upright on my knee, I couldn't let her lean on me and she wanted to as she was tired

I wouldn't assume that because its a children's hospital they will have any idea of how to manage a child who probably has ASD. Tricks and distractions would never have worked with DS, he would not sit still for a minute, no amount of videos, toys etc would make a difference. He needed sedation, which they were hopeless at administering (at Guy's this was). I would phone them first, don't worry about seeming stupid, and ask them what they are going to do to keep her still etc.

Thanks Davros, i will phone them tomorrow

my ds has one aged 3 & was amazingly calm & well behaved even though like your dd hated (& still hates) anything like temp taking, ear exams, looking in mouth etc. You may be pleasantly surprised like we were!