If you've ever heard of an EEG (electroencephalogram), you probably know that it's a highly sensitive monitoring technique for recording the electrical activity of your brain. You may also know that these brain waves show up on a computer screen when they are detected by tiny electrodes painlessly attached to the scalp, and that the test is usually performed in a hospital or doctor's office setting where the patient can remain still and relaxed.
What is Ambulatory EEG?
The new buzz surrounding EEG's is that they can be comfortably recorded at home to monitor the daily activity of patients exhibiting symptoms of epilepsy, certain types of dementia or other brain irregularities. Patients can walk around and carry on normally while recordings from the electrodes are relayed to a small tape recorder strapped to the waist.
How Long Does This Type of EEG Take?
Usually 24 hours, but sometimes several days to give doctors a good idea of what's going on inside the brain. When the patient returns the device to his or her doctor, the readings will be compared with any notes the patient jotted down in a daily diary about what level of activity he or she was performing and what time of day it was.
Is More Information Available?
Absolutely. Uniontown Hospital physicians are currently using the latest Ambulatory EEG technology and we welcome your calls or questions.
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