According to CookChildrens.org, an EEG, which is the name used for electroencephalography, is a test used to diagnose epilepsy by monitoring the activity of the brain. This test shows patterns of abnormal brain electrical activity that occur due to a number of different conditions, including epilepsy. With wireless EEG, patients do not have to be confined to a chair or bed and can move around freely while continuously being monitored by the video EEG equipment.
Info from CooksChildren.org about their Wireless EEG monitoring:
Our state-of-the-art Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) is an important part of the evaluation and integrated care of the child with epilepsy and recurrent unprovoked spells.
More than 800 children have been admitted to our 10-bed unit designed with children in mind. Thanks to Bluetooth wireless technology, patients have the freedom to come and go from their rooms, walk around the unit, and even play in the playroom while still being continuously monitored by the video electroencephalograph (EEG) equipment.
- 10 private rooms
- Enough space in each room for a parent or guardian to stay
- Bluetooth wireless video EEG equipment
- Wireless connectivity, so you can stay connected with your family, school or work
We are supported by a team of caring and highly skilled nurses and nurse educators, EEG technologists, nutritionists and child life specialists whose sole purpose at Cook Children’s is to focus on the children in our unit. We are all proud to be part of the team who will be caring for your child, answering your questions and with you every step of the way.
Information about an IBVA (Interactive Brainwave Visual Analyzer) from IBVA.co.uk:
(This may not be the actual product used by Cooks Children’s Hospital, but provides good general information about this type of device)
IBVA is portable neurofeedback system, wirefree as brainwaves are sent by Bluetooth to an Apple Mac computer. Very user-friendly and non invasive for recording your EEG, the IBVA unit can even be tucked into a shirt pocket. Simply attach the 3 pre-gelled electrodes to the forehead, and secure with the blue IBVA headband. Now you can connect 2 users brainwaves simultaneously to one Mac, for 4 channels of EEG interaction useful in client / therapist and energy work.
About Epilepsy:
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. It is also called a seizure disorder and is usually diagnosed after a person has had more than one seizure that was not caused by a known medical condition. A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that affects how a person acts for a short time. Seizures in epilepsy can be hereditary or related to brain injury.
According to The Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy and seizures can affect children at different ages and in different ways. Sometimes seizures from epilepsy are temporary and sometimes children are affected their entire lives from this disorder. As teenagers, many aspects of life can be affected such as driving, dating, school and other activities. Many children and teens are socially impacted by epilepsy suffering from low self-esteem and isolation. Early recognition and treatment is the key to the best possible outcome for this disorder.
The seizures that are caused by epilepsy have many different symptoms; some people know when they are about to have a seizure and some people do not. Seizures have different stages; a beginning, middle and end and seizures affect each person differently. Some symptoms include:
• Warning or aura before a seizure
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Electric shock feeling/convulsions
• Black out
• Confusion
• Memory loss after a seizure
Information from Cooks Children: https://www.cookchildrens.org/SpecialtyServices/Neurosciences/Programs/Pages/emu.aspx
View article and video on YNN: http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/281219/your-health–fighting-epilepsy-wirelessly
Information from IBVA: http://www.ibva.co.uk/hard.htm
