EEG Test in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is an EEG test?
An EEG test, short for electroencephalogram, is a recording of the tiny electrical signals that brain cells produce as they communicate. Small metal discs called electrodes rest on the scalp and pick up these signals, which appear as a set of wavy lines on a screen. The electrodes only listen: they send nothing into the brain, so the recording is painless and involves no radiation or needles.
The pattern of the waves changes with age, alertness and sleep. Certain shapes, such as sharp spikes or sudden bursts of activity, point towards a tendency to seizures and can show whether that tendency starts in one area of the brain or across the whole brain at once. That distinction helps the neurologist choose the right treatment. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, the EEG test in Sharjah is carried out within the neurology service, and the recording is interpreted by the neurologist who assessed you.
Who needs it
An EEG is most often requested after an episode that might have been a seizure. Your neurologist may recommend one for:
- A first seizure, or a collapse with jerking movements
- Blackouts or episodes of lost awareness with an unclear cause
- Brief staring spells or "switching off", particularly in children
- Sudden jerks of the arms on waking
- Known epilepsy, to classify the seizure type or review treatment
- Episodes of confusion or unusual behaviour that come and go
The EEG is one part of the picture. A clear description of the episodes, ideally from someone who saw them, remains the most important evidence, and brain imaging through radiology, such as an MRI scan, is often arranged alongside it. Children can have an EEG too, and a parent usually stays with the child during the recording.
What happens
- You sit in a reclining chair or lie on a couch in a quiet room.
- The technician measures your head with a tape and marks the electrode positions, so the recording follows an international standard layout.
- Each spot on the scalp is gently cleaned, and around twenty small electrodes are attached with a soft paste or a stretchy cap. A few sensors may also record your heart rhythm.
- You relax with your eyes closed for most of the recording, opening and closing them when asked.
- Two simple activation steps are usually included. You breathe deeply and steadily for a few minutes, which can bring out the typical pattern of absence seizures, and a light flashes at different speeds in front of your closed eyes to check for sensitivity to flashing light.
- You may drift off to sleep, which is welcome, because some changes appear mainly in drowsiness and light sleep.
The technician watches throughout and notes any movement or symptoms, so tell them straight away if you feel anything unusual. If you have an episode during the recording, that moment is often the most useful part of the test.
When a routine recording is inconclusive, your neurologist may advise a sleep-deprived EEG, where you stay up for much of the night beforehand so that sleep comes easily during the test. Longer video-EEG monitoring, which records over days while filming you, is arranged by referral to a specialist centre when needed.
Preparing for it
Clean, dry hair makes the biggest difference to the quality of the recording. The electrodes need direct contact with the scalp, and hair oils, gels, sprays and conditioners form a film that weakens the signal. Hair oiling is a common routine in many UAE households, so leave it out the night before and the morning of the test.
- Wash your hair the night before or that morning with shampoo only, and leave it loose and dry
- Remove braids, extensions and hair pins where possible
- Take your usual medicines at the usual times unless your neurologist tells you otherwise
- Eat normally, because low blood sugar changes the tracing
- Bring a list of your medicines, previous EEG reports and a phone video of an episode if you have one
- For a sleep-deprived EEG, follow the exact sleep instructions you are given and arrange for someone to take you home
If you wear a headscarf, bring a spare to put on afterwards, as some paste may remain in the hair. During Ramadan, discuss appointment timing and medicine times with your neurologist in advance.
Afterwards
The electrodes are removed and most of the paste wipes away; the rest washes out at home with warm water and shampoo. After a routine EEG you can go back to work, school and your usual day. Your neurologist reviews the full tracing and discusses the results with you at a follow-up appointment, together with your history and any imaging.
If you had a sleep-deprived EEG, do not drive yourself home, because tiredness raises the chance of an accident and a seizure. Follow UAE licensing guidance and your neurologist's advice about driving at all times.
Call emergency services immediately if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if one seizure follows another without recovery in between, or if someone is injured or has difficulty breathing after a seizure. Contact the neurology team with any questions about your results or new episodes.
Cost and insurance
An EEG requested by a doctor to investigate seizures or blackouts is covered by most UAE health insurance plans, sometimes after pre-approval, and a sleep-deprived recording may need separate approval. Referral for longer video-EEG monitoring at a specialist centre usually needs its own approval too. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover before the test on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Is an EEG test painful?
An EEG test is painless, because the electrodes only record signals from the scalp and pass nothing into the body. The paste can feel cool and slightly sticky, and the scalp cleaning feels like a light rub.
Does a normal EEG mean I do not have epilepsy?
A normal EEG does not rule out epilepsy. A routine recording captures only a short window of brain activity, and many people with epilepsy have normal activity between seizures, so the diagnosis still rests mainly on a clear description of the episodes. An abnormal-looking tracing on its own also does not confirm epilepsy, which is why the neurologist interprets it alongside your history.
What are the risks of an EEG?
An EEG has very few risks, because it uses no radiation, needles or electrical current into the body. Flashing lights or deep breathing can occasionally trigger a seizure in someone who is prone to them; the technician watches throughout and stops that part of the test at once. Some people get mild scalp redness from the cleaning, and deep breathing can cause brief light-headedness or tingling in the fingers.
Should I stop my epilepsy medicine before an EEG?
Keep taking your usual medicines, including anti-seizure medicines, unless your neurologist gives you different instructions. Stopping them suddenly can bring on seizures.
Why is a sleep-deprived EEG sometimes needed?
A sleep-deprived EEG is used because tiredness and sleep make seizure-related brain activity more likely to appear on the recording. It is usually suggested when a routine EEG is normal but the episodes still sound like seizures.
Can an EEG diagnose headaches, dizziness or memory problems?
An EEG is rarely helpful for headaches or ordinary dizziness, and it is used for memory or confusion only in particular situations. Those symptoms are usually investigated through the neurologist's examination and, when needed, imaging such as an MRI or CT scan.
When will I get my EEG results?
EEG results are given by your neurologist at a follow-up appointment, after the full tracing has been reviewed. The technician who records the test does not interpret it, so wait for the neurologist to explain what the recording means for you.
Is an EEG covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover an EEG requested by a doctor for seizures or blackouts, sometimes with pre-approval. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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