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The doctor usually orders a variety of tests to help make the diagnosis. These include:
Depending on the urgency of the situation, other tests also might be recommended, such as a lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap), EKG (electrocardiogram, to check the heart), or a sleep test.
The results of these tests often appear completely normal in people with epilepsy. Normal test results do not mean that the seizures are not real or that epilepsy is not present.
Topic Editor: Carl W. Bazil, M.D., Ph.D.
Last Reviewed: 3/8/04
Continue to: What if it's not epilepsy?
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The doctor usually orders a variety of tests to help make the diagnosis. These include:
Depending on the urgency of the situation, other tests also might be recommended, such as a lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap), EKG (electrocardiogram, to check the heart), or a sleep test.
The results of these tests often appear completely normal in people with epilepsy. Normal test results do not mean that the seizures are not real or that epilepsy is not present.
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