How does an EEG show encephalopathy?
How does an EEG show encephalopathy?
EEG in Common Acute Encephalopathies The EEG changes in the beginning commonly include slowing of the posterior dominant rhythm, followed by a gradual slowing of the background with the appearance of theta and delta activity.
Can EEG detect encephalopathy?
EEG can be useful for early detection of dialysis dementia or encephalopathy (occurring in about 1% of dialysis patients), as abnormalities can precede clinical symptoms by several months in this disorder.
What causes spikes in EEG?
Spikes or sharp waves are terms commonly seen in EEG reports. If these happen only once in a while or at certain times of day, they may not mean anything. If they happen frequently or are found in specific areas of the brain, it could mean there is potentially an area of seizure activity nearby.
What does diffuse slowing on EEG mean?
Diffuse slowing: Diffuse slowing indicates global cerebral dysfunction. The slowing can be in the theta or delta ranges. The slowing can be high or low amplitude.
What are EEG patterns?
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the depiction of the electrical activity occurring at the surface of the brain. Frequency (Hertz, Hz) is a key characteristic used to define normal or abnormal EEG rhythms. Most waves of 8 Hz and higher frequencies are normal findings in the EEG of an awake adult.
What does encephalopathy on EEG mean?
Electroencephalography (EEG) has been used to assess cerebral dysfunction for more than 70 years. The EEG is very sensitive to changes in the function of the cerebral cortex. Encephalopathy refers to global cerebral dysfunction, which manifests itself as slowing of activity in the cortex.
What is a normal EEG?
Most waves of 8 Hz and higher frequencies are normal findings in the EEG of an awake adult. Waves with a frequency of 7 Hz or less often are classified as abnormal in awake adults, although they normally can be seen in children or in adults who are asleep.
Why do they flash lights during EEG?
In some cases, a strobe light may be used during an EEG test. This aims to detect if this alters the electrical pattern in the brain. (Usually it does not. However, a small number of people have seizures triggered by flickering or strobe lights and so this may help to identify these people.)
Can an EEG be wrong?
Yes, EEG can be bad for you. The consequences of being misdiagnosed with epilepsy are obvious and serious [9]. When the diagnosis is based largely on an abnormal EEG, no amount of subsequent normal EEGs will ‘cancel’ the previous abnormal one, and the wrong diagnosis is very difficult to undo.
What is a normal EEG reading?
Can an EEG show brain damage?
An EEG can determine changes in brain activity that might be useful in diagnosing brain disorders, especially epilepsy or another seizure disorder. An EEG might also be helpful for diagnosing or treating the following disorders: Brain tumor. Brain damage from head injury.