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EEG for children
child EEG · pediatric EEG · sleep EEG for children · kids' brain wave test
A nurse puts a cap with sensors on your child's head and records brain activity. It is safe. The sensors send nothing, they only listen.
For seizures, fainting, strange episodes, delayed development, sleep problems, or when a neurologist orders it.
⏱ Duration: usually 30 to 60 minutes; a sleep EEG takes longer; the report is usually ready in 1 to 3 days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Hair. Wash your child's hair the day before, with no oil or styling products. Undo braids.
- Sleep. If a sleep recording is needed, bring your child tired, before a nap. The clinic will tell you how.
- Food. Feed your child. Hungry children are more restless.
- Mindset. Tell your child: we will put on a cap like an astronaut's, and it will not hurt.
What to bring
- The referral and past EEGs
- A list of medicines
- Videos of episodes, if you have them
- A favorite toy, a bottle, and a sheet
- A towel to dry the hair afterward
How it goes
- Your child sits on your lap or on the couch
- A cap with electrodes is put on, with gel under them
- Your child is asked to sit still and open and close their eyes
- Older children may be asked to breathe fast or look at a flashing light
- Sometimes the recording is made while your child sleeps
- The cap is removed, and the gel is wiped off
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt
- Your child may not like the cap. Your calm helps
Afterwards
- Wash your child's hair at home
- Your child can go back to a normal day
- The report is usually ready in 1 to 3 days. Go over it with a neurologist
Contact a doctor straight away if
- A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, or your child does not come round after a seizure: call emergency services
Common questions
Will it hurt my child?
No. The electrodes only record. They send nothing into the head.
Why are we asked to come sleepy?
During sleep, the EEG sometimes shows what cannot be seen while awake.