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| Understanding the EEG |
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| The EEG machine—short for electroencephalograph—records electrical activity from your brain. This allows your doctor to see your brain waves. When a person has epilepsy, the EEG shows a special pattern called "spike and wave"-which will define the seizure type. Knowing this, a doctor can prescribe treatment that will most likely control the epilepsy. |
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| Pulling an all-nighter |
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| Sometimes your doctor will order a "sleep-deprived EEG." That's because lack of sleep tends to bring out the worst in brain waves. By staying up all night, you are increasing the chance that epileptic activity will appear, if it exists. This information can help your doctor choose your medication or see if your seizures are likely to return. It only makes sense that people with epilepsy need to get plenty of sleep! |
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| Lighting the way |
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| A bright light is flashed in your eyes during an EEG. This is to see if you have photosensitive epilepsy. Only 5% of people with seizures have this type, but it's best to rule it out. These seizures can occur from some flashing lights, television, and computer games. |
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| Breathing results |
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| During an EEG, you may be asked to hyperventilate by taking deep breaths for 3 to 5 minutes. For reasons that are not fully understood, this can bring out epileptic activity. This allows some people to find out a lot about the inner workings of their brain. |
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| Why an MRI? |
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| You may wonder why you need an MRI if you already had an EEG. Although an EEG is the best way to find out about brain waves, it is not the most accurate picture of the inside of the brain. That's why this is a very good test if you had an abnormal EEG. The CAT scan is an excellent way to see inside the brain as well. |
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| The MRI and CAT scan—what's the difference? |
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| Both of these tests involve new technologies. Here's how they differ: |
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CAT scan—the first x-ray machine to rely heavily on the computer. It takes thousands of images and uses them to form a picture of the brain. CAT scans are quicker and often better for head injuries. |
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MRI scan—also uses a computer, but uses a strong magnetic field instead of x-rays. MRI scans show more detail than CAT scans. |
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| Doctors who specialize in epilepsy use the MRI to look for subtle abnormalities in the brain that can cause seizures. This is because the MRI can catch things that the CAT scan may miss. |
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