Pediatric EEG

Abstract

AbstractElectroencephalography (EEG) is an important part of the evaluation of many disorders in infants and children. However, differentiating abnormalities from normal maturational changes and benign variants can be challenging. There are also age-specific recording requirements, including acceptable duration of recording, as well as need for recording of additional physiological variables. In preterm and term infants, it is essential to determine conceptional age to determine whether the EEG patterns are appropriate for age and record at least two physiological variables in addition to the EEG. In infants and children, there is considerable variability regarding the amount of alpha, theta, and delta present, requiring an understanding of the broad ranges of normal backgrounds for each age group. Finally, as the child matures and transitions to adulthood, there are benign variants that can easily be misinterpreted as potentially epileptiform. To be able to correctly identify EEG abnormalities in children, one must be aware of the normal EEG patterns for each age group.