Brain performance can be a tricky thing and something that needs precise equipment and specialized medical professionals to evaluate. One of the most common times to seek brain performance testing is in the event of possible seizures. If you've been talking with your doctor about the possibility of this kind of testing, it's important to know what you can expect. Here's a look at a few of the most common tests that they may conduct.
Electrical Activity Testing
Particularly when your doctor is concerned about seizures of any kind, he or she may recommend electrical activity testing as part of assessing your brain performance. Electrical activity testing, done with an EEG, can be completed in a few different ways.
Traditional EEGs are done in a short-term process, and they are designed to just get a snapshot of the electrical activity in your brain. These procedures aren't particularly long, and can often be done as an outpatient procedures.
Sometimes, you'll be asked to undergo an inpatient EEG where you'll spend a few days at the hospital hooked up to the EEG testing equipment. In many situations, this is ordered so that doctors can closely monitor the EEG, and you'll be placed under video monitoring as well. If there is concern about silent seizures or something similar, this test is often ordered to help identify what's happening.
At-home EEG testing is another possibility. In some situations, you'll be fitted with the EEG electrodes and sent home for a couple of days. Afterward, you return the equipment so that your doctor can evaluate the results. The goal of this test is to monitor your brain's electrical activity during your routine daily life.
All of these tests are often used to diagnose and monitor epilepsy conditions as well as other neurological conditions.
Response Studies
In some situations, you may be asked to undergo stimuli response studies to evaluate how your brain performs in response to certain types of stimuli. Understanding your brain response in certain controlled situations can help your doctor to evaluate specific types of stimuli that may not be recognized or ones that trigger excessive brain response.
These are some of the most common tests that can be completed to assess your brain performance. Understanding these tests can help you to see why your doctor might order them and what they can tell him or her. If your doctor is asking you to undergo any kind of brain performance testing, ask for details like these to help you prepare for the process.
To learn more, contact a company like Midwest Brain Health.
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