Neurodiagnostic Testing Services at NNA
Our fellowship-trained, board-certified physicians and certified technologists perform neurodiagnostic testing in our Green, Hudson, and West Akron offices for the convenience of patients and referring physicians.
Neurodiagnostic consults by our physicians ensure the most appropriate and effective tests are ordered. Or, the referring physician may directly order tests.
Testing with our state-of-the-art digital equipment is scheduled at the patient's convenience. Timely reports are generated by our staff for the referring physician.
EEG (electroencephalogram)
An EEG is the recording of electrical activity in the brain; it measures brain waves. It does not measure intelligence or "read your mind," but allows the physician to study a series of small electrical fluctuations produced by the brain.
- Routine EEG
To record brain activity, small disks or electrodes are attached to a plastic cap on the patient's head, each ear and one to the chest. The examination is usually completed in one hour.
- 24-, 48- and 72-Hour Ambulatory EEG
This form of EEG allows the patient to leave the testing facility and continue their daily routine. The patient wears the equipment for either 24, 48 or 72 hours, as ordered by their physician. During the test time, the patient keeps a written diary of activities and symptoms.
- Sleep Deprived EEG
The patient is required to be awake from midnight the night before, until the time of the test. The patient must fall asleep during the test for it to be valid.
EMG (electromyogram)
A physician may recommend an EMG to determine if muscles and nerves are functioning properly. Electrodiagnostic medicine (the study of nerves and muscles) assists the physician in analyzing symptoms—numbness, tingling, pain, weakness or muscle cramping—and determining a course of treatment. The patient may experience problems in only one part or throughout the body.
Tests include nerve conduction studies, needle EMG and evoked potentials.
- Nerve Conduction Study
Nerve conduction studies reveal how well the body's electrical signals travel to a nerve. Small electrical shocks are applied to a nerve and the nerve’s response is recorded. There may be a quick, mild, tingling feeling.
- Needle EMG
During this procedure, a small, thin needle is inserted into several muscles to evaluate muscle response. The physician tests only those muscles necessary to evaluate problems discussed during the prior exam. The patient may experience a small amount of pain.
The physician looks at and listens to electrical signals that travel from the needle to the EMG machine. He relies on his medical training and expertise to determine the cause of the problem. New needles are used for each patient and needles are discarded after each test.
- Evoked potentials
Evoked potentials are painless procedures that examine nerve pathways through the spinal cord or from the eyes and ears. Nerve responses are recorded over the scalp and other areas of skin as signals are transmitted from small electrical shocks, light pulses or clicks of sound in the ears.
What kind of medical training do EMG physicians have?
EMG physicians have four or more years of medical school and three or four more years of training in a residency program. Some physicians obtain further specialization through a one year fellowship program, which many NNA physicians have completed.
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