Consultants in Neurology MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation 8550 Marshall Drive, Suite 100 Lenexa, Kansas 66214 913-894-1500 or 800-753-6992

Evoked Potential and EEG Instructions

These are Consultants in Neurology’s instructions for Evoked Potentials and EEGs, if these differ from those in the book, follow these instructions:

Visual Evoked Response (VER) 1. Make sure and bring your glasses or contact lenses. 2. Make sure your hair and skin are clean. Lotion, hair conditioner, light hairspray can be used. Greasy hair treatments and heavy hairspray or styling gels need to be avoided, however. Make sure and bring a comb with you. 3. You can eat and drink anything you want prior to test. However, keep in mind that the test takes 45 minutes, and you cannot get up to use the bathroom while taking the test, so don’t overdo liquids. If you take medications, you can take them as you usually do. 4. This is an easy, painless test that does not hurt at all! You will have several wires put on your scalp with some paste, and we will have you look at a TV screen with a checkerboard on it while a computer analyzes the activity from the wires.

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) 1. If you wear a hearing aid make sure and bring it with you! 2. Make sure your hair and skin are clean. Lotion, hair conditioner, light hairspray can be used. Greasy hair treatments and heavy hairspray or styling gels need to be avoided, however. Make sure and bring a comb with you. 3. You can eat and drink anything you want prior to test. However, keep in mind that the test takes at least 45 minutes, and you cannot get up to use the bathroom while taking the test, so don’t overdo liquids! If you take medications, take your medicine as you usually do. 4. This test involves listening to loud clicks, and may not be accurate if you have an ear infection or a build-up of wax that is interfering with your hearing. If this is the case, it may be better to postpone the 2006

test until your infection is cleared up or the wax removed from your ear. Check with you physician if you have questions. 5. This is an easy, painless test! You will have a several wires applied to your head and then you will listen to clicks through headphones which are placed over your ears.

Somatosensory Evoked Response (SER) This test can be ordered on arms, legs or all 4 limbs. It takes 45 minutes to test two limbs, and 90 minutes to test four limbs. 1. You will need to wear loose, comfortable clothing that will allow us access to your legs up to 5 inches above your knees, your neck, low back, and your hip. Two-piece outfits that have loose legs usually work well. 2. Make sure your hair and skin are clean. Lotion, hair conditioner, light hairspray can be used. Greasy hair treatments and heavy hairspray or styling gels need to be avoided, however. Make sure and bring a comb with you. 3. You can eat and drink anything you want prior to test. However, keep in mind you cannot get up to use the bathroom while taking the test, so don’t overdo liquids! If you take medication, you can take your medicine as you usually do. 4. One nerve will be stimulated on each wrist and ankle, and the response will be recorded from the local nerve, the spinal cord and brain. The test takes 7-10 minutes on each limb. You will feel an electrical pulse when the stimulator is on, but most people do not find it uncomfortable.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) 1. You can only have 4 hours sleep the night before the test. If there is anything abnormal, it is much more likely to show up if you have 4 hours sleep or less. If you have other tests the day of the test, or a long road trip, try not to go to sleep during them! 2. Wash your hair within 24 hours of the test. You can use whatever shampoo you like, and a light cream rinse or conditioner. Avoid any hair product that will leave your hair greasy or stiff like heavy hairsprays. You can style your hair as you usually do. Bring a comb, hairpick or brush with you to the test. 3. Eat within 30 minutes of the test. This does not have to be a big meal, a piece of fruit, a carton of juice or milk, or a pack of chips will be adequate. If you don’t have time, and cannot bring something with you, we have a snack vending machine where you will find plenty of options. You can eat or drink anything you want except things that contain caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate). 4. Do not eat or drink anything containing caffeine 8 hours prior to the test. Don’t overdo liquids, however, since the test will take over 1 hour and you cannot get up to use the restroom during that period! 5. This is a painless test during which a tech will measure your head, and apply 30 small cup electrodes to your scalp. Your brain activity will be recorded through these electrodes for approximately 45 minutes while you rest on a bed. You do not feel anything from the electrodes and they do not do anything to you. The test usually takes 1½-2 hours.

2006