This is usually carried out when you are in hospital. In this test, an EEG is performed while you are sleeping. However, a small number of people have seizures triggered by flickering or strobe lights and so this may help to identify these people.) Sleep EEG This aims to detect if this alters the electrical pattern in the brain. In some cases, a strobe light may be used during an EEG test. Some specialised types of electroencephalograph test Strobe lighting As the EEG pattern in infants and children can vary considerably, careful interpretation of the test is necessary. An adult pattern is usually developed by the age of 15 years. This is because the EEG changes during childhood. The interpretation of a child's EEG recording is more difficult. However, a normal result does not rule out epilepsy, and an abnormal result does not necessarily mean that you have epilepsy. Therefore, if you have symptoms which are thought to be seizures, an abnormal EEG means that the diagnosis is likely to be epilepsy. However, a small number of people who never have seizures and who don't have epilepsy, have some abnormal patterns of electrical activity in the brain. (Although, during a seizure the activity is even more abnormal.) For example, children with typical 'absence seizures' often have a characteristic EEG pattern which helps to confirm this type of epilepsy.
![eeg meaning eeg meaning](https://www.simplypsychology.org/EEG-Waves.png)
Some people with certain types of epilepsy have abnormal patterns all the time, not just when they have seizures. This shows abnormal patterns of electrical activity.