Neurologic Diagnostic Testing

Patients on the Neurology Service at CMC Dubai can be admitted for both diagnostic and therapeutic causes. In addition, we video-monitor patients with suspected epilepsy and sleep disorders which are often misdiagnosed and mistreated for years before getting a right diagnosis and treatment.

• Routine Electroencephalography (EEG) & long-term video-EEG monitoring study for evaluation of possible seizures.

• Polysomnography (PSG) for sleep disorders.
• Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and Electromyography (EMG) for evaluation of nerve and muscles disorders (neuromuscular disorders).

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

• EEG stands for electroencephalogram. It is the recording of the “brainwaves” – the electrical activity of the brain.
• Patients are referred for an EEG for a variety of reasons including seizures, faints and blackouts and the results will assist the referring doctor in diagnosis and treatment.
• The test will be carried out by specially trained health professionals (EEG technician) in the clinical neurophysiology department.
• The EEG is a pain free test and patients do not feel any shocks on the scalp or elsewhere.

• Usually the regular EEG is 45 minutes – 1 hour. A sleep deprived EEG is preferred to increase the diagnostic yield and might take 3 hours to perform. A long-term video EEG monitoring is usually 24 hours and it’s indicated to help in diagnosing challenging cases and guiding appropriate treatment. Sedation might be needed to record sleep during the EEG.

It is our policy to handle all test results in a secure and confidential manner
At the end of the test, the EEG technician will not be able to give you any results, as they will need to be analyzed carefully by the Neurologist/epileptologist. Once the test result is available, you will be contacted by us.

NCS (Nerve conduction study)

Nerve conduction studies (NCS): A nerve conduction study measures how long it takes for a nerve impulse to travel along a nerve. If the nerve is trapped, damaged or diseased then these signals will be slow.

Electromyography (EMG)

An EMG is a test to check how your muscles are working and involves having a needle placed into the muscle to record this.These tests are used to investigate several different muscle and nerve problems.

You have been sent an appointment for your test and we have provided the following information, so you know how to prepare and what to expect.

If you have a cardiac pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, please telephone us before your appointment. Attending your test Please ensure you arrive on time and allow at least one hour for the test. If you arrive late it may be necessary to rebook your appointment.

Polysomnography (PSG)

Polysomnography (PSG) is a sleep study. This test records certain body functions as you sleep or try to sleep. Polysomnography is used to diagnose sleep disorders.

During a sleep study the sleep cycles and stages of sleep are monitored.

Electrodes are placed to monitor continuous recordings of brain waves, electrical activity of muscles, eye movement, respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rhythm.

Direct observation of the person during sleep may also be used. The test is performed for people who suffer from insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnea, breathing difficulties during sleep or behavior disturbances during sleep and sleep disorders in children.

Polysomnography can also diagnose other sleep disorders:

• Narcolepsy
• Periodic limb movements disorder (moving your legs often during sleep)
• REM behavior disorder (physically “acting out” your dreams during sleep)
• Sleep disorders in children (sleep terrors, confusional arousals…)

Following the study, the data will be analyzed by the sleep physiologist and reported by your Physician. You will be contacted once the results are available.