An EEG Preparation Video for Kids

Inside your brain there are always electrical signals that communicate to the rest of the body. These signals tell the muscles to move so you can do things like brush your teeth or talk. A seizure happens when one or more parts of the brain has a burst of electrical signals that are not normal (go a bit haywire), and this interrupts the normal brain signals. When our normal brain connections are interrupted, it can cause a seizure. A seizure can look very different from one kid to the next. Some kids get very still, and stare into space, while others lose control of parts of their body. If you have had a seizure, an EEG can help the doctors see what’s happening with the electrical signals in your brain in order to help the seizures stop happening.

First, the tech will measure your head several times with a tape measure and make a few marks with a special crayon on your skin.

Next, he/she will gently scrub little sections of your head with a green gel and Q-tip to clean the area. This will help the glue and electrodes to stick.

Then she/he will scoop out some skin paste and put it on the round metal button attached to a colorful electrode. This will be placed on your head and covered with a soft gauze that has been dipped in special glue made for the skin.

Then she/he will use a tube that blows air to dry the glue so that it stays on. There may be up to 25 electrodes that need to go on your head, it’s quite colorful! When you get the ones near your forehead put on, you may notice it is very stinky. For this part you can cover your nose or wear a mask with toothpaste or chapstick inside to make the smell better.

After your head is all finished, the tech will place special stickers on your chest and back and attach some wires to them.

Last, all the wires will be gathered in a black sleeve behind your head so they won’t get tangled up! The wires should all go into a small pack that you can carry when you go to the bathroom or walk around.