Neurology Diagnostic Tests

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures the electrical activity in your brain. The EEG involves placing electrodes on your head and connecting them to a monitor. The brain’s electrical activity appears as waves on a monitor. This helps your physician detect anything unusual.

EEGs can determine if someone has epilepsy or other neurological conditions.

Sleep-deprived EEG

This type of EEG is performed first thing in the morning. Patients are asked to remain awake the night before the test.

Wear comfortable clothes to the test. Wash and dry your hair the evening before the appointment and do not use gel, mouse or hairspray.

Please follow any other instructions given to you when the test was booked.

You can resume normal activities after the EEG.

Your physician will interpret your results and discuss them with you at a follow-up appointment.

EMG (Electromyography)

An electromyography (EMG) is a test that looks at the electrical activity in muscles.  During the test, electrodes are placed on the skin in the area where you are experiencing symptoms and attached to a monitor. 

Then, a physician inserts small needles, called needle electrodes, into your muscles. The needle electrode detects electric activity in the muscles, which shows up as waves on the monitor. 

EMG is used to help diagnose muscle and nerve disorders such as:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Myasthenia gravis  
• Muscular dystrophy 

Before the EMG, a test called a nerve conduction study is usually performed. During this test, your physician will stimulate the nerve with a small electric shock through one of the electrodes. A nerve conduction study helps your physician see if there is any nerve damage.

You can resume your normal activities after your EMG.  

You may have some bruising and soreness in the areas where the needle electrodes were inserted. This should go away after a few days.

Your physician will go over the test results with you either on the test day or at a follow-up appointment.