Electroencephalography of a child's head: what is it like

1 The essence of the procedure

This is a method of examining the cerebral cortex - electroencephalography. He identifies various diseases, showing the activity of neurons and the connection between them. You can also use this examination to just make sure that the baby is fully developed. For children of school age diagnose brain overexertion and fatigue. It is possible to determine the dynamics and effectiveness of medical treatment in certain diseases.

In cases of complaints of convulsions, severe irritability and tearfulness, restless sleep, headaches in the mornings and evenings, sudden loss of consciousness, mental retardation, violent and aggressive behavior, after concussion, with a suspicion of epilepsy, the doctor prescribes EEG.This study is completely safe, it can be prescribed from birth. EEG is considered an effective procedure by which you can correctly diagnose and prescribe effective treatment. It determines what the activity of brain cells is - reduced, normal or elevated.

In addition, an electroencephalogram assesses the age-related features of the brain, reveals the degree of delay in the development of memory, speech, attention, as well as their causes. In addition, diagnoses various diseases of the central nervous system, such as cerebral palsy, encephalopathy, minimal brain dysfunction, vegetative dystonia syndrome, and others. And if there is a suspicion of epilepsy, then this diagnosis is simply necessary.

2 When are EEGs assigned to children

EEG is indicated to children in the following situations:

• craniocerebral trauma;
• function of the brain in case of nervous system disorders;
• changes in cerebral vessels;
• injuries sustained during pregnancy, childbirth or in the postpartum period;
• diseases of the central nervous system.

3 Process of

Before the electroencephalography of the child should be prepared. During this procedure, the child will be put on the head cap on which the electrical sensors are located. To improve the reading of the sensors, the child should have a clean head. The night before exclude games on the computer and watch TV.The subsequent preparation for the procedure depends on the age of the child. If this is a baby, the procedure is prescribed for the period of sleep of the child, usually a lunch, while he should be full and dry, so that the sleep was strong, and nothing disturbed the child. The kid is laid on the couch or on the hands of his mother.

Older children are seated in a chair. In advance, a small patient should be prepared so that he listens to the doctor's instructions. You can beat everything in the form of a game, then the child will not have fear and negative impressions after the procedure. You can take with him his favorite toys or books, or vice versa buy a new toy, to which he was carried away and not capricious. And the session needs to be peddled at a convenient time, so that the child does not want to sleep, but was already physically exhausted.

In a hospital where an electroencephalogram is performed, the room is darkened and soundproofed. The cap, from which 12 electrodes leave, is connected to the device with soft wires. Before the procedure, the sensors are moistened with a gel or saline solution, or simply with water, so that an air cushion between the electrodes and the scalp does not form.(Figure 1 EEG in a child) Ears are put on the ears of children in the form of clips that do not conduct current. The whole procedure takes no more than 20 minutes. In children, up to a year with the help of EEG, bioelectrical activity of the brain is recorded. Older children are being investigated in several stages:

1. "Background curve", for such recording the child should be at rest, it fixes brain activity.
2. "Opening-closing eyes", for this test, the doctor asks the child to close and open his eyes. The work of the brain during the transition from rest to activity and back is investigated.
3. Test "hyperventilation".For this, the child makes deep breaths and exhalations. This test reveals a brain tumor and inflammation, epilepsy of a latent form, stress.
4. Test "photostimulation" - light rhythmic stimulation. To diagnose the child's epileptic activity, as well as to assess the adequacy of the child's psychomotor and speech development, the doctor conducts manipulation with the light bulb. To do this, the child's eyes must be closed, at this time rhythmic flashes of light occur. The reaction to these flares is determined.
5. As an additional procedure, a psychological test can be performed by exposure to sound stimuli. To do this, the child must clamp and unclench the cams.

4 Result of carrying out

The decoding is displayed on paper with curved lines, it also displays the activity of neurons of different parts of the brain, according to which the doctor calculates the purity, amplitude and rhythm of the brain waves. Recording the curves and the presence of symptoms in the child give the results of the diagnosis. The doctor explains the result of the survey to the parents. In the presence of pathologies, treatment is prescribed, followed by a repeat electroencephalogram. For a second examination, you need to take a previous conclusion to determine the dynamics of the processes of the baby's brain. It is clear that the child's nervous system is constantly developing, respectively, the results can be different.

There are also contraindications for carrying out an electroencephalogram, it is ringworm, damage to the scalp, pediculosis and febrile condition. But complications after EEG are completely absent, therefore parents can be quiet.