UF Health Neurodiagnostic Center: Before Your Visit

EEG/ Evoked Potential preparation

• Overview
• What is an EEG?
• Test preparation
• After the test
• Results

Overview

Please be ON TIME for your appointment. If you are more than 20 minutes late, your appointment may have to be scheduled for another day. If you are going from a clinic appointment directly to the EEG Lab and you cannot make it to the appointment on time, please have the clinic call and advise when you will be there so you will still be seen for the test.

If you cannot keep your scheduled appointment or need to reschedule the appointment please call the EEG Lab directly at: 352-265-0334. Please allow extra time to register on the 6th floor before your scheduled appointment time.

NOTE: Since this is a major university hospital and trauma center, emergency situations may sometimes pull EEG techs away from the area. Although we do our best, sometimes this means delays for patients undergoing non-emergent tests. Please bring a book or other materials in case your time is delayed. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to call 352-265-0334 and we will do our best to answer all of your questions. 

What is an EEG?

The electroencephalograph (EEG) is a safe painless procedure that uses a machine to translate the electrical activity of the brain into a series of wavy lines. It is used to find out if there is any abnormality in the electrical function of the brain. The EEG machine can detect electrical abnormalities in the brain but can not read your mind. Your head will be measured and marked with a wax pen to identify the locations to place electrodes. Electrodes or leads are small metal disks that are attached to your scalp with a special paste. Depending on the possible diagnosis needed the technologist may ask you to breathe deeply through your mouth for a short time, which can cause a slightly dizzy feeling or numbness in the hands or feet. This will go away when you begin to breath normally again. A strobe light may be flashed into your eyes, or you may be asked to open, and close your eyes a few times. You may be asked to sleep or to do other simple tasks. We do these individualized tasks to help your doctor diagnose your specific problem. The test usually takes 1-1.5 hrs and you will need to wash your hair afterward.

Test Preparation

Continue all medications unless otherwise instructed by the physician. Please be sure that the hair is freshly washed and dry, free of gel, mousse, hair spray, or grease. One parent/guardian/ caregiver is allowed to be in the room with the patient at the time of testing. If other children must be brought at the time of test, they must be very quiet and old enough to be left alone in the waiting area. They are not allowed in the testing room during the test. You may eat before coming for the test and it is best not to have caffeine prior to the test. If you have not eaten for 3-5 hours prior to the test it is suggested that you drink some orange juice or have some fruit or candy to ensure that you blood sugar is normal at the time of the test.

Sometimes, you will be asked by your health care provider to get the study while sleep deprived. This means that we want to see you in a sleepy state and to sleep during the test. Please take appropriate precautions to make sure you can safely travel to and from the EEG Lab, or Sleep Disorders Center for your study. Change your regular sleep time to accommodate. One can either wake up extra early, or go to bed extra late.

If the test is for a baby and the feeding time is close to the appointment time please put off feeding until the testing time. Please bring a bottle and you can feed the baby during the test so that the baby will sleep during the test. If you child is scheduled for a "sleep deprived" test and he/she is younger than 5 years old, reduce the number of hours they normally sleep by half. Use your best judgment as you know your child best and it is easier if your child is sleepy upon arrival for the test. If your child is older than 5 years of age, then they should have no more than 5 hours of sleep before coming to the test. DO NOT let them sleep on the way to the appointment

After the Test

There are no specific discharge instructions for an EEG and you can resume your normal activities. If you did go to bed later than normal and, or got up earlier than normal, you may want to sleep before continuing your routine. You will be able to wash your hair here after the test or you can wait until you get home.The paste used to attach the electrodes will wash out fairly easily with warm water and mild shampoo.

Results

Due to the large amount of data recorded on your study, it takes a little time to review all the data. The study is analyzed carefully and a report is generated. If your referring physician is outside of the University of Florida, your results will be faxed to their office in approximately 5-7 business days. If your referring physician is within the University of Florida, he or she will be able to obtain the results electronically in our internal electronic medical record system within 3-4 business days. Under no circumstances will the technologists collecting the data discuss the results of the test. These results are for your physician to discuss with you only. If another physician wishes to obtain a copy of your report, he or she may phone our office at (352) 265-0334.