What to Expect From Your Prolonged EEG

At only a mere three pounds, your brain does the work of something that should weigh three tons. This ever-active organ controls everything from your movements and thoughts to your memory and vision. 

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that leads to recurrent seizures of various types and severity. The abnormal brain waves cause serious symptoms, including involuntary jerking of the arms and legs, muscle stiffness, fear and anxiety, and even loss of consciousness.

An important test that helps your neurologist diagnose epilepsy and other conditions is known as a prolonged EEG, which measures the electrical activity in your brain. When certain abnormalities emerge, your provider can make an accurate epilepsy diagnosis.

At Houston Neurological Institute, our expert team of neurologists has a variety of advanced diagnostic tools at their disposal, so if you’re experiencing symptoms consistent with epilepsy — or another neurological condition like Alzheimer's disease, a brain tumor, or the effects of a traumatic brain injury — we can diagnose you properly and design a treatment plan that addresses your unique circumstances.

A prolonged EEG can help pinpoint a brain disorder diagnosis

An electroencephalogram, or EEG, is a helpful test that uncovers abnormalities in the electrical activity that occurs in your brain. 

A prolonged EEG is a longer, more in-depth study of what’s happening in your brain, and it can last up to several hours. In some instances, your provider administers the EEG in conjunction with video, and the images an EEG produces include wavy lines, as well as spike figures that indicate abnormal brain activity.

The prolonged EEG allows your Houston Neurological Institute provider to get a more detailed, complete picture of your brain’s activity, and this can often include activity that occurs both when you’re awake and asleep. The test offers versatility, because it can be done either at Houston Neurological Institute’s in-office lab or in your home.

The procedure is simple and painless. When you get a prolonged EEG, we place electrodes  (or you do, if you’re taking the test at home) on your scalp while you rest comfortably. They direct signals to the EEG machine, which records your brain waves. They’re then reflected on the machine’s screen, so your technologist can assess them.

We closely monitor your readings, and from these, your provider can make a correct diagnosis and get started on a treatment plan tailored especially for you. 

Preparing for a prolonged EEG is as simple as the procedure itself. You want to wash your hair the night before your EEG, but skip conditioner and other styling products, as they can impact the performance of the electrodes.

Your provider should also be aware of any medications you take before your test. Occasionally, we give direction on what you should eat or drink and how much or little you should sleep the night before, but this is less common. You’re usually required to have a driver bring you to our office and take you home before and after your prolonged EEG.

To learn more about the prolonged EEG experience, contact our Pearland or Pasadena office, or book an appointment with us online.