What is a Video EEG?
Video EEG monitoring records your child's brain waves and a video of your child's actions. This test is often done when there is a concern about abnormal movements, behaviors or seizures.
This test is done in the hospital. Your doctor may schedule it to last a few hours to a few days, depending on how many seizures or events your child is having. The test is painless and safe.
EEG technicians will glue 26 electrodes to your child’s head. There is one wire on the chest to monitor the heart rate. The electrodes form a ponytail of wires that will go to a box. The box is kept in a bag that you or your child carries. This connects by a cord to the wall.
How Can You Prepare Your Child for a Video EEG Test?
- Explain the test to your child.
- Shampoo your child's hair well the night before the test.
- Do not use any hair spray, mousse or oil. Remove all hair extensions, pieces or weaves.
- It is not necessary to shave your child’s head prior to the test. This may actually make it more difficult to apply the electrodes.
- Unless your doctor tells you differently, your child may eat and take their medicines on the morning of admission. Bring your child's favorite toys, games, books or other items to help them feel more comfortable. They can also do homework while having the test done. Your child will be in a private room. There is a TV and internet access. There is no DVD player in the room, but there are movies uploaded on the TV for you to watch.
- A staff person will not be in the room with your child. A parent/guardian must stay in the room with the child during the entire test. This includes staying overnight. Other family members and siblings may visit but are not permitted to spend the night. Because the electrodes are attached to the head, we suggest your child wear a shirt that buttons or zips down the front. We have gowns available for your child to wear if needed.
You will need to reschedule your appointment if you child has:
- Lice
- Scabies
- Bed bugs
- Fever over 100.2°F
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Recently tested positive for flu, Covid or strep
- Been recently exposed to tuberculosis, chicken pox or measles
During the Test
Your child will be seen by a Nurse Practitioner or Physician after arrival to the floor. Then the EEG techs will come into the room to glue the electrodes to your child’s head.
Staff will show your child how the test is done, and you may stay with your child the whole time. Some children have a hard time laying still while the electrodes are placed. If this is true for your child, we may ask for your help. We may also need to use a papoose to help your child lay still only while the electrodes are placed. We cannot use medicine to help calm your child during this time because medicine may alter the results of the test. The electrodes will stay in place until your child is discharged.
Video, audio and EEG will be recorded continuously during the hospital stay. Your child may move around the room but may not leave the room once the electrodes are placed.
After the electrodes are in place, your child may move freely around the room. Because of the video portion of the test, your child may not leave the room unless it is medically necessary. They may eat, sleep and do other activities in their room. If seizure medications are held, your child may need to have an IV placed. This is so we can give seizure medications quickly for a long seizure or seizure clusters.
After the Test
On the day of your child's discharge, electrodes will be removed, and your child will be discharged between 6:30 - 8:00 am. This study is not exactly 24 hours of testing (or 72 hours for the three day studies), it is EEG recording of daytime activity and sleep. The final report will be sent to your child's neurologist.
You can call your doctor about a week after going home to get the results of the study. After the test, the electrodes are removed with acetone, which dissolves the glue. There will still be some white flakes of glue that you can wash out at home. When the test is finished, your child can play, eat and go to school as before.
Some children’s skin becomes irritated by the electrodes. This is more common in infants, those with sensitive skin, or for children whose test lasts a few days. If this happens, you can apply Aquaphor® to the red areas or Neosporin® to any open areas. Call your doctor if you notice the area is red or has any drainage.
The final report will be sent to your child's neurologist. You can call your doctor about a week after the test to get the results of the study.
