EEGs Tests for Children with Autism: A Parent’s Guide

What is an EEG test?

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a Neurophysiological treatment technique used to record the electrical activity of the brain. For an EEG, multiple electrodes are placed on the patient’s scalp. These electrodes measure features of the brain’s spontaneous electrical activity and display these as waveforms on a computer screen. Certain conditions, such as seizures, can be seen by the changes in the normal pattern of the brain’s electrical activity.

Why is an EEG test done?

The most common reason for an EEG is to aid in the diagnosis of seizures. Seizures are defined as transient episodes of excessive, disorderly discharge of neurons, primarily in the cerebral cortex (which is the outer layer of brain tissue). They generally appear as brief interruptions to a person’s ongoing behavior. Seizures occur suddenly and may appear as abnormal movements, reduced responsiveness, staring spells, or a wide variety of other symptoms. A diagnosis of epilepsy (or seizure disorder) is given when an individual has two or more seizures that are not secondary to fever, trauma, infection, or metabolic illness.

An EEG is helpful in answering:

• Are the episodes seizures or another type of event?

• If a seizure, what type of seizure (this helps decide how to proceed with treatment)?

• Are there subclinical seizures (seizures that have no clear outward manifestation)?

• What is the risk of seizure recurrence?

• Is there a focal brain abnormality?

• Are there areas of abnormal electrical activity that may be impacting cognition, behavior, and/or development?

An EEG also provides information about an individual’s sleep – in particular, the brain’s progression through the different stages of sleep and whether this is disturbed.

Why EEG Test for Autism?

So, why are EEGs frequently recommended for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, intellectual developmental disorder, or global developmental delay The occurrence of seizures in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders is much higher than in the typically-developing population. As an example, epilepsy occurs in 1-2% of the general population but in 20-40% of those with autism. An abnormal EEG occurs in about 2-4% of the general population but in 50-80% of those with autism. Why do seizures occur at such high rates in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders? The disturbance to the brain that leads to developmental delays also predisposes the brain to develop seizures. In some cases, severe seizures may also disrupt the brain in ways that lead to developmental delays. In those cases, the reduction or elimination of seizures through appropriate treatment has the potential to improve behavior, cognition, and development.

How is an EEG done?

An EEG can be done in a hospital, clinic, or at home by an EEG technologist. The electrodes are applied to the patient’s scalp while he or she lies on an exam table or sits in a chair. The EEG technologist attaches several flat metal discs (electrodes) to different places on the head using a sticky paste to hold the electrodes in place. The electrodes are attached to wires that connect to a computer that records the electrical activity. The recording may last 30 minutes or may last as long as several days or more. The duration of the recording depends on what information your doctor is trying to obtain. Usually, an EEG is done both during wakefulness and during sleep. This can be done by recording for a full 24-hours or it can be done by depriving the patient of sleep the night prior to the test to increase the likelihood that he or she falls asleep during the test (this is called a sleep-deprived EEG). Once the EEG recording is completed, it is read by a neurologist. The final results are usually available within 2-4 weeks of the test date.

How does an EEG feel?

The EEG is generally considered a painless procedure; however, for individuals who are sensitive to touch on the head, it may be experienced as painful. Because the patient needs to remain still when the electrodes are being attached to the scalp, certain techniques like being wrapped in a blanket or being held by a parent may be needed. After the electrodes are placed (which may take approximately 20 minutes), the electrodes may be secured with gauze and adhesive bandages. These help the electrodes to stay in place. The patient should be monitored throughout the duration of the EEG to ensure that he or she does not pull off the bandages or wires.

Can an EEG be done under sedation?

Medication to sedate the patient is sometimes given if the patient has difficulty cooperating with the test. The sedating medication can change the findings of the EEG and may obscure the abnormalities that the test is designed to detect. Although sedating medications can be given in order to help the patient cooperate with the test, this is not the most desirable way to do an EEG.

Is there any risk to having an EEG?

An EEG is a very safe, non-invasive test. The electrical activity of the brain is recorded, but at no time is the body exposed to any electrical current or radiation.

Additional Resources

In recent years, advances in neuroscience research have paved the way for several important technologies like Electroencephalography (EEG) to be used in autism treatment. At Cortica, we employ several diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as part of our personalized assessment and therapy program.

Though EEG is the only test we offer at our Cortica center, we also offer an array of additional autism tests that may be ordered by our team and performed at other laboratories and clinics in the area.