Meriter Neurodiagnostics

What is Neurodiagnostics?

Neurodiagnostic technology is the scientific field devoted to the recording and study of electrical activity of the brain and nervous system. Technologists record electrical activity arising from the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, somatosensory or motor nerve systems using a variety of techniques and instruments.
 

What Kinds of Procedures are Performed in Neurodiagnostics?

The most common neurodiagnostic procedures are:

• The Electroencephalograph (EEG) – An electroencephalograph (EEG) is a recording of the brain's electrical activity. The brain produces small electrical signals, which the EEG computer is able to pick up and reproduce as a record on paper or on a computer screen. The EEG is an important part of the evaluation of children and adults with seizure disorders. EEG's are also done for a variety of other medical conditions.
   
• The Evoked Potential (EP) – This is a recording of electrical activity from the brain, spinal nerves, or sensory receptors that occurs in direct response to external stimuli. EP waveforms require sophisticated computer equipment to extract data that will allow physicians to determine the functional state of these pathways. This test is commonly performed by our staff during spine surgery to help the surgeon make sure nerves are not damaged during the operation.
   
• Intraoperative Monitoring (IOM) – This is a recording of signals from various areas of the nervous system during surgery. The primary goal of IOM is to monitor nervous system pathways at risk for ischemia, mechanical or other injuries as a result of surgery. IOM provides feedback to surgeons regarding the status of the nervous system being monitored. IOM can reduce surgically induced neurological deficits and thus is an indispensable aid to neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and vascular surgeons. IOM can also be used for anatomical function identification in various types of orthopedic or neurosurgeries.

Patient Instructions for Common Procedures

Please visit our procedures page for descriptions of these procedures and patient instructions.

• Routine EEG (Electroencephalograph)
• 24 Hour Ambulatory EEG
• Sleep Deprived EEG
• Video EEG Monitoring
• Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
• Visual Evoked Response/Potential (VEP or VER)
• Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP)
• Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IOM)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does it hurt?
A: No. Some babies might find the procedure irritating, but it does not hurt. Toddlers and babies sometimes cry from being held stationary for electrode application rather than from the wire application itself. It feels like getting a hair style to children and adults.

Q: Do they cut my hair?
A: No. The metal disk electrodes are put on the scalp between the hairs.

Q: Will they give me a shot?
A: No.

Q: Will they give me an electric shock?
A: No. The metal discs record electricity coming from the brain but you do not feel this.

Q: Are there any after effects?
A: No. You will feel the same after the recording as you did before it.

Q: Can it read my mind?
A: No. Your thoughts are private and cannot be discovered by this test.

12/4/2004