We want you to have a great experience with Alaska Brain Center. We recommend that our new patients print and fill out these forms prior to your appointment. If you are unable to do so, just come to your appointment a few minutes early to complete them. Our doctor looks forward to seeing you and addressing any needs or concerns you have.
An EEG or electroencephalogram is a recording of electrical brain wave activity from wires placed on the scalp.
- Please make sure your hair is clean and dry. Do not put any spray, lotion or oil in your hair.
- Please do NOT wear make-up to this appt. It makes applying the leads difficult.
- You may eat, drink and take prescribed medications as usual. Avoid Caffeine.
- If the study is for a child, you may bring their favorite toy, blanket, or stuffed animal.
- You do NOT need to arrive early for this appointment.
- We recommend no more than 4 hours of sleep the night before your EEG appointment. We need you to be sleep-deprived for this test to enhance falling asleep. The test is more accurate if you are able to sleep during the EEG recording.
- Please allow one hour and thirty minutes for this test.
Electromyography (EMG) is a form of electrodiagnostic testing that is used to study nerve and muscle function. EMG testing provides your doctor with specific information about the extent of nerve and/or muscle injury and can also determine the exact location of injury and give some indication whether the damage is reversible.
A tilt table test is performed to determine if the cause of fainting spells is due to neurocardiac syncope, a condition that can cause the loss of consciousness due to a drop in the heart rate or blood pressure. During this test, you are securely strapped onto a table that is moved from a reclining postion to a heads-up, 70-degree angle. The purpose of these changing positions is to see if a loss of consciousness can be induced under a medically-supervised, controlled situation.
The information obtained during this testing will help classify your seizures, or loss of awareness, and may indicate changes in treatment or new treatment that might be beneficial to you. Benefits may include reduction of medication side effects, reduction of seizure activity or even eliminate seizures completely.
- Please arrive at the hospital 20 minutes prior to your appointment time to complete registration. This is an elective admission to the hospital for an extended EEG with a typical duration of 3 to 5 days. You may pre-register for admission by calling 861-6858. We encourage you to do this at your earliest convenience.
- You need to continue to take your medications prior to admission. However, please do NOT take your seizure medication the morning of admission, unless directed to do so otherwise by Dr. Sponsler or a nurse.
- Please bring all of your current medications, in their original bottles.
- In order to make your hospital stay more comfortable you may bring in personal items. For example: toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant, reading materials, puzzles, crafts or other quiet activities to help pass the time.
- You may wear your own clothing, but shirts or tops must button or zip up the front of the garment.
- Shampoo your hair at home before coming to the hospital, but do not use any styling products (gels, hairspray, etc.), as they will interfere with the scalp electrodes used for your test.
- You will be staying in a private room and may have visitors during your stay. Regular hospital visiting hours are from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Family members may stay beyond these hours.
The sleep study takes all night. You will check-in at 9:30pm and wake up at 5:00am.
- You will need to turn off all electronic devices during the test.
- Be sure to bring:
- Medications
- Comfortable clothes to sleep in, and slippers
- Change of clothes for the morning
- Pillows/Blanket (we do provide these items, but you can bring your own if you prefer)
- Reading material
- Snacks and a drink
- How to prepare:
- Do NOT nap on the day of the study.
- Avoid caffeine after 12 noon.
- If you feel like you will need a sleeping pill to help you rest please let us know before your appt. so we can fax a one-time prescription to your pharmacy. You MUST bring the pill to your appt. and have our Sleep Tech witness.
- We do Not have a wheelchair at our office so if you need one you will need to bring your own.
The VEP and BAER tests measure neurological reactions to visual (V) and auditory (A) stimulus. The visual test involves watching a black and white checkered pattern on a screen. The auditory test involves listening to clicking sounds.
For both tests, you will have electrodes placed on the scalp to record potentials.