EEG on Pediatric patients.

Performing EEG's on pediatric patients is often challenging for the the technician, as well as the parents, child and the pediatric neurologist who will interpret the EEG recording. An Ideal EEG is performed with limited patient movement in a sound insulated dark room where the patient is initially awake and allowed to fall asleep. Any slight movements of the patient head can introduce noise into the recording making it sometimes uninterpretable and inconclusive. Also, the awake and sleep states of the mind are very important to record in an EEG. If you think a two year old is going to sit through this for at least 20 minutes without dificulty then you are mistaken. Also, the proper application of the minimum of 22 electrodes ( except for neonates ) involves rigorous scrubbing of the scalp at each electrode site with a q-tip and exfoliating gel. Many pediatric patients are unable to tolerate this application procedure leaving the test open to an inaccurate study if performed without proper preparation. In extreme cases pediatric patients have to be sedated. A good simulation to try on you child is to place 22 pieces of 1 inch square paper on the patient's head at evenly spaced intervals as though you were decorating a Christmas tree. Before applying each piece of paper, scrub the area rigorously with a q-tip and some apricot scrub or other exfoliating compound. Then apply vaseline to each piece of paper and adhere it to that location of the scalp that you have scrubbed. In most cases, the electrode of a routine EEG is merely held on by vaseline textured compound paste which can be dislodged with very little effort. Performing this test takes patients and skill of the technician and help form the parents or guardians of the child so that he may cooperate for the test. It is a team effort.