Who Is A Candidate For Undergoing A VEEG Test?

If your doctor suspects that you’re having seizures or spells, you may be asked to take a VEEG test. This will give your doctor more information about what’s occurring and when so he or she can better diagnose and treat your condition.

In this blog, the board-certified ear, nose, and throat doctors and sleep specialists at eos sleep diagnostics explain who’s a good candidate for having a VEEG Test.

What is a VEEG test?

This is a more specialized form of an EEG test, which measures and records the electrical activity of your brain. A Video-EEG (VEEG) adds video of what you’re doing to determine the relationship between what you’re physically doing and your brain activity at the time.

It’s performed by attaching electrodes to your scalp, and they’re attached to wires that lead to a computer. The computer records your brain’s electrical activity, and your physical activities are also recorded on video and on the computer. The recording captures your brain’s electrical activity and your behavior simultaneously to demonstrate point by point what you’re doing while any brain activity changes occur.

When is a VEEG test performed?

A VEEG test is performed to diagnose episodic events that may include one or more of the following:

• Seizures
• Fainting
• Blackout spells
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Behavior problems

VEEG allows your doctor to see what happens before, during, and after you have one of these episodes. It can help him or her determine if your seizure or spell is related to the electrical activity in the brain (an epilepsy seizure), or whether it’s unrelated (a nonepileptic seizure).

Who is a candidate for a VEEG test?

This test can be performed on adults or children, and the following circumstances may make you a good candidate:

• Your doctor suspects you’re having seizures or spells.
• More information is needed about when these episodes occur and whether and how they’re related to electrical activity in your brain.
• Your seizures or spells aren’t being adequately controlled, so more information is needed in order to pinpoint a diagnosis and treatment.

When are the advantages of this test?

• Diagnostic benefits – This test allows all stages of sleep to be recorded, which is when many seizures take place. The information gathered helps determine the type of seizures you’re having and the region of the brain where they’re occurring. Your doctor will then be able to correctly diagnose your symptoms and create an effective treatment plan.
• Flexible – Your test can be performed in the location that best suits your needs. Patients who have frequent seizures or ones that occur at specific times of day or with specific triggers may receive the test at a sleep lab. Others may take the equipment home, which will help record your daily activities and sleep and any effect they have on your seizures.
• Painless, noninvasive, and safe – You’ll feel no pain or discomfort during the test, and no electrical current at all is put into your body. It’s a very safe test.
• Very little preparation required – You’ll need to wash your hair prior to the test and refrain from using any sprays, oils, or other products on it. This will allow the electrodes to stick to your scalp. In some cases, you may be asked to stop taking one or more medications or asked to avoid caffeine.

To find out more about VEEG testing in NYC and whether you may be a good candidate for it, contact eos sleep diagnostics today at 212-873-6036 to request an appointment.