EEG sleep test

[getmetothebeachplease]

Has anyone's little one had one of these who could give me a bit more info please?

Hello, is it a sleep EEG to diagnose epilepsy that you are asking about? If so what do you want to know? 🙂

@Auntpollyhadadolly

Hello, is it a sleep EEG to diagnose epilepsy that you are asking about? If so what do you want to know? 🙂

Yes it is! Thanks for replying! So my DS (2) is having one done to check for a rare form of epilepsy that effects language. He doesn't actually have seizures or anything as far as we are aware but they have to do one of these tests because he was saying some words when he was one but has since stopped. They said they will give him some melatonin before the eeg to help him become sleepy but I'm wondering if this actually helps to get them to sleep or not? I'm worried I'll be sat with a screaming 2 year old refusing to sleep in a strange place. And also how long these tests normally take?

It's great they are doing diagnostic testing. Have they indicated what type of epilepsy they are looking for? Have they done genetic testing? If not i would push for this. My son has epilepsy caused by a very rare genetic mutation which impacts speech and language (he is 3.5 and doesnt talk maybe 20 single words/sounds) amongst a host of other things.

We have never had melatonin to get to sleep during the EEG as whenever they have needed to capture sleep they have done a 24hr either in hospital or at home. I do know that melatonin is used to help get to sleep rather than stay asleep but it can take some time to work. I would take some exciting snacks/toys and definitely a screen of sorts ipad/dvd etc as it's easier to keep them sitting still. Try and take him sleepy so wake him earlier than usual/not let him nap as this may help. As soon as the have captured enough background data of awake, falling asleep, waking up etc they tens not to keep you longer than needed. Are you in the UK? If you can let me know what kind of epilepsy they are looking for Infintile/epileptic spasms / developmental encephalopathy etc. I can direct you to a Facebook group and the people there are a wealth of knowledge. I hope it all goes well for you! It is very stressful going through all these tests. 💖

Oh a tip for the EEG, ask them to bandage the head and not just the mesh- it's much much easier to keep little fingers from pulling off the wires. X x

So sorry for the later reply. Last few days have been hectic. They are also doing genetic testing as well as a lot of other blood tests. I don't know the full name of what they are testing for but I think she said LKS? Like I said he has no fits or anything's but it's just the loss of speech that they are worried about. They are testing for lots of things though

@Auntpollyhadadolly

It's great they are doing diagnostic testing. Have they indicated what type of epilepsy they are looking for? Have they done genetic testing? If not i would push for this. My son has epilepsy caused by a very rare genetic mutation which impacts speech and language (he is 3.5 and doesnt talk maybe 20 single words/sounds) amongst a host of other things.

We have never had melatonin to get to sleep during the EEG as whenever they have needed to capture sleep they have done a 24hr either in hospital or at home. I do know that melatonin is used to help get to sleep rather than stay asleep but it can take some time to work. I would take some exciting snacks/toys and definitely a screen of sorts ipad/dvd etc as it's easier to keep them sitting still. Try and take him sleepy so wake him earlier than usual/not let him nap as this may help. As soon as the have captured enough background data of awake, falling asleep, waking up etc they tens not to keep you longer than needed. Are you in the UK? If you can let me know what kind of epilepsy they are looking for Infintile/epileptic spasms / developmental encephalopathy etc. I can direct you to a Facebook group and the people there are a wealth of knowledge. I hope it all goes well for you! It is very stressful going through all these tests. 💖

Oh a tip for the EEG, ask them to bandage the head and not just the mesh- it's much much easier to keep little fingers from pulling off the wires. X x

Oh and thank you for the tip, I will definitely ask for that!!

It's great they are doing diagnostic testing. Have they indicated what type of epilepsy they are looking for?

They are looking for Landau-Kleffner syndrome. It can only be diagnosed properly by a sleep EEG. One of the symptoms of it is deterioration in the language.