This means that sometimes the EEG is described as 'abnormal' (that is 'not normal' brain activity) but does not 'prove' that the person has epilepsy. To complicate this further, some people have 'abnormal' EEGs but do not have epilepsy.
What do seizures look like on EEG?
Certain other patterns indicate a tendency toward seizures. Your doctor may refer to these waves as "epileptiform abnormalities" or "epilepsy waves." They can look like spikes, sharp waves, and spike-and-wave discharges.Certain other patterns indicate a tendency toward seizures. Your doctor may refer to these waves as "epileptiformepileptiformEpilepsy and seizures can develop in any person at any age. Seizures and epilepsy are more common in young children and older people. About 1 in 100 people in the U.S. has had a single unprovoked seizure or has been diagnosed with epilepsy. 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.https://www.epilepsy.com › learn › who-gets-epilepsyWho Gets Epilepsy? abnormalities" or "epilepsy waves." They can look like spikes, sharp waves, and spike-and-wave discharges.
What causes spikes in brain waves?
Epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep (CSWS): Continuous spike and wave activity is seen during sleep. This can be seen in many different seizure subtypes and epilepsy syndromes. It can be caused by structural abnormalities of the brain, genetic abnormalities, and metabolic derangements.Jul 6, 2021
Are EEG spikes seizures?
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.Aug 4, 2015
What does an EEG show besides seizures?
EEG can also detect abnormal brain waves after a head injury, stroke, or brain tumor. Other conditions such as dizziness, headache, dementia, and sleeping problems may show abnormal brain patterns. It can also be used to confirm brain death.
How do you know if your EEG is abnormal?
Even someone who has seizures every week can have a normal EEG test. This is because the EEG only shows brain activity during the time of the test. If you aren't having a seizure at that time, there may not be any unusual brain waves for the test to record. During a seizure, the electrical activity is abnormal.
Can an abnormal EEG mean nothing?
An abnormal EEG doesn't automatically mean that you, for example, have epilepsy. The EEGs of babies and young children can often record irregular patterns that don't mean anything, or the irregularities may flag previously diagnosed neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy.
Does an abnormal EEG always mean epilepsy?
To complicate this further, some people have 'abnormal' EEGs but do not have epilepsy. Also, many people who do have epilepsy will only have 'abnormal' activity on the EEG if they have a seizure at the time the test is happening.
What is an abnormal EEG test results?
An abnormal EEG means that there is a problem in an area of brain activity. This can offer a clue in diagnosing various neurological conditions.