- What does an abnormal EEG in a child mean?
- Does an abnormal EEG mean seizure?
- Can an abnormal EEG be wrong?
What does an abnormal EEG in a child mean?
Abnormal EEG signals include little electrical "explosions" such as the spikes, spike and wave, and sharp waves that are common in Epilepsy even when children are not in the midst of a clinical seizure. Indeed, the EEG is usually done in the interictal state-the time in between clinical seizures.
Does an abnormal EEG mean seizure?
Spikes or sharp waves are terms commonly seen in EEG reports. If these happen only once in a while or at certain times of day, they may not mean anything. If they happen frequently or are found in specific areas of the brain, it could mean there is potentially an area of seizure activity nearby.
Can an abnormal EEG be wrong?
Yes, EEG can be bad for you. The consequences of being misdiagnosed with epilepsy are obvious and serious [9]. When the diagnosis is based largely on an abnormal EEG, no amount of subsequent normal EEGs will 'cancel' the previous abnormal one, and the wrong diagnosis is very difficult to undo.