Word parts
What it means
A painless test that shows brain waves as lines on a screen or paper. It is used to find and classify seizureSEE-zherA sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.Full entry and epilepsyEP-ih-lep-seeA long-term brain condition in which a person has repeated seizures that are not caused by another illness.Full entry , and to look at brain function in sleep disorders, coma and suspected brain death. It usually takes about an hour; some are done while the client sleeps or over several days with video.
For the nurse
Teach the client to wash their hair the night before and use no oils, sprays or gels, and to avoid caffeine before the test. Ask the provider whether any medicines should be held and whether the client should stay awake the night before. Afterward, help remove the paste from the hair.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | EEG |
|---|---|
| Spanish | electroencefalograma |
| Also written | EEG, electroencephalography |
Related terms
seizure
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.
encephal/o
A word part that means brain.
epilepsy
A long-term brain condition in which a person has repeated seizures that are not caused by another illness.
electr/o
A word part that means electricity or electrical activity.
-gram
A word ending that means a record or picture made by a test.