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How To Get a Toddler to Cooperate with an EEG

Tue, 01/22/2008 - 14:37

Topic: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Testing

Help -- how do you get through an EEG with a three year old that hates having her head touched. I literally have to keep hair combing and hair washing to a minimum because she is so sensitive -- how do you get toddlers to keep those things on and calm down? Please send any advice/techniques/coping mechanisms. I am dreading an upcoming EEG.

Comments

Re: How To Get a Toddler to Cooperate with an EEG

Submitted by Seruzies on Thu, 2008-01-31 - 20:54

How do you get through an EEG with a three year old?

One word: barbiturates! Then, if you can find something for the kid, great!

Seriously, have you asked the Dr about something to give as a mild sedative before you head down for the EEG?

How do you get through an EEG with a three year old?

One word: barbiturates! Then, if you can find something for the kid, great!

Seriously, have you asked the Dr about something to give as a mild sedative before you head down for the EEG?

Re: How To Get a Toddler to Cooperate with an EEG

Submitted by Cess02 on Tue, 2008-07-15 - 13:16

I am in the same boat. My daughter is 5 she has Down syndrome and Autism. For her first EEG, the only choice I had was to burrito wrap her and lay on top of her and hold her down. It was awful, and it took 2 hours to hook her up for the 24 hour EEG. This time, we have a muscle relaxant, but they told me at the EEG place, if they find out she's been sedated, they cannot do it because a nurse needs to be present. UGH! I am dreading it!!

Megan

Re: How To Get a Toddler to Cooperate with an EEG

Submitted by kaitlynsmom on Fri, 2008-02-01 - 14:25

Hello! For starters, I don't know what the hospital procedures are.. but my daughter is very sensitive to her hair and head being touched, she has Sensory Processing Disorder (maybe if you haven't already, look into that)... anyway, at one of the hospitals that Kaitlyn got a VEEG done they just sit her up on a bed, with a little TV in front of her and she just watches TV while they give her a stellar "spaghetti hat".... It's usually the taking off of the leads and everything that is a little more of a bother to Kaitlyn, but maybe if it is just a regular EEG that is a half hour or so it won't be so bad taking them off... Kaitlyn's are always glued on because hers are a few days long... Good luck. I would highly recommend seeing if she can watch TV if she likes to watch TV... I would try not to hold her down while getting it done, unless she becomes agitated and doesn't want to stay there. If you start off holding her down, you never give her a chance to tolerate it well and it usually makes it worse. They held Kaitlyn down for her first one, and it traumatized her. For all of hers following that one, she is scared at first but sits still for them to do it... and she is 2 1/2. I also, don't know about the sedative that someone else mentioned because I was told it could change the results and that could actually be more traumatizing because that would involve an IV, monitoring.... etc.... Good luck. Emily

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