Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

EEG Testing

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In addition to collecting a clinical history of the patient, providers will often conduct tests to help reach an epilepsy diagnosis. A few of the most common tests are discussed below.

EEG Testing

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) are neurological tests that allow physicians to look at the brain’s electrical activity. It can help a physician decide if a patient is having seizures, and if so, what kind of treatments might be most effective.

EEG Testing Epilepsy BMC

There are different types of EEGs, and your provider will explain which option is best for you or your child. Tests can be performed over 1-2 hours in an outpatient setting, or a provider may prefer to conduct full day or overnight studies called long-term monitoring (LTM) to better understand a child’s seizures. 

Downloads:

Preparing for an EEG – Outpatient

Preparing for an EEG – Inpatient (Overnight) 

Sleep Evaluations

Some forms of epilepsy involve seizures that happen during sleep. This is sometimes called a "nocturnal" epilepsy disorder, though the seizures can occur any time the child is sleeping, not just as night. For other children, sleep deprivation can be a major trigger for seizures. If you are concerned about your child’s sleeping habits, be sure to discuss with your provider.

Genetic Testing for Epilepsy

In some cases, epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders have a genetic basis. Therefore, genetic testing and counseling can be helpful for understanding an individual’s condition. This may translate to more specific treatment options.

CT Scans & MRIs

Sometimes it is helpful to examine the brain’s anatomy more closely. ACT (Computerized Tomography) scan or CAT scan is an X-ray of the brain and bones in the skull. It can identify substantial problems in the brain but is not very good for seeing the brain's fine details. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field rather than X-rays to provide a clear and detailed picture of the brain.