In-Home Video EEG Monitoring

An in-home video EEG is a painless neurodiagnostic test that measures and records the electrical activity in your child’s brain. Your child can move around in the comfort of your home during the EEG, without being required to stay in the hospital for the recording. Results of the EEG can determine changes in brain activity that may help diagnose brain disorders, such as epilepsy or another seizure disorder.

Our equipment includes a small portable EEG unit, about the size of a suitcase, that can be placed in an out of the way area in your home. Two small cameras will be set up in two different rooms where you child spends most of his or her time. When the EEG ends, generally after 24 to 72 hours, the technician will return to remove the electrodes from your child and pick up the equipment.

Your technician will arrive to your home at the scheduled time with a small portable EEG unit that will be placed in an area where it will stay for the entire recording time. Your child will have a light-weight portable pack that is easy to carry around so that he or she can move around the house freely. 

The technician will measure your child’s head and attach special sensors called electrodes to your child’s scalp. He will use a special soft paste that will dry and keep the electrode secure and then wrap the head with gauze to protect the electrodes. Attaching all of the electrodes can take 20-30 minutes and kids can get restless. Be prepared with some of your child’s favorite things to keep them happy and wiggle-free as reasonably as possible. Once the electrodes are placed, your child will have a long “tail” of wires leading to a box that will be placed in a small backpack. 

It is very important that you keep your child on camera as much as possible during the study, while eating, sleeping, reading, playing, watching TV, etc. 

When the recording is over, your technician will come back to remove all of the electrodes. This is painless. The paste dissolves in water and can be removed easily with a remover. Once all of the leads are removed and the paste has been wiped away, wash your child’s hair with warm water and shampoo to get all the paste out.

Your doctor may order an in-home video EEG for the following reasons: 

1. To better understand the type of seizures or epilepsy your child has. 
2. To understand events during sleep, unusual behaviors that might be seizures or sudden loss of consciousness. 
3. To evaluate the effects of treatment. 
4. To consider trying to stop medication after seizures have stopped happening for at least 2 years.

Before your EEG tech arrives at your home, please follow these Do’s and Don’t’s: 

DO’S

• Have your child shower or bathe before the EEG tech arrives. Make sure your child’s hair is shampooed and rinsed but DO NOT use conditioner, gel or hair products. 
• Have your child wear either a button-down or zippered shirt so you can change clothes without going over EEG wires. (We recommend having a few extra button-down or zippered shirts available.) 
• Take all medications as prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise instructed. Choose a room that your child will be willing to stay in for MOST of the study. For younger children, gather up games, movies, books, toys, puzzles, and other activities so they can stay on camera as much as possible without becoming bored. 
• Keep your child on camera as much as possible during all eating, sleeping, reading, playing watching TV, etc. 
• Use the patient diary as much as possible as instructed by your technician. 
• Have fun with your EEG experience! Some kids may want to spruce up their look with a loose fitting hat, scarf or bandana.

DONT'S 

• No hair products (conditioners, sprays, gels, etc.). 
• No braids, ponytails, extensions or accessories. 
• No chewing gum during the study—this causes extra activity on the EEG. 
• No physical activity or horseplay: lots of movements or sweating will loosen the wires. 
• No showers or baths during the entire study.
• Do not place any electrical devices (headphones, electric blankets etc.) on or near the electrodes on your child’s head. 
• Try not to let your child scratch at his or her head. Instead, they can tap on an itchy spot. 
• Do not let your child stay out of camera view for very long. Be prepared to be in front of the camera as much as possible each day.

Most health insurance plans will cover doctor-recommended in-home video EEG studies. Before your study, our referral coordinators at CNCA will call your health insurance plan to verify coverage and find out what deductible or co-payments might apply.