Your doctor has requested that your child have a sleep deprived EEG

Sleep deprivation is used to obtain a sleep recording without using sedation or to enhance epileptic EEG patterns in children with sleep related seizures. A sleep deprived EEG may reveal patterns that are not seen in a routine awake EEG recording. For the sleep deprived EEG to be successful it is important that you read the following instructions carefully.

Age specific information

Under 2 years of age

Sleep-deprivation is not necessary. We ask parents to have child ready for a nap during the EEG. Preferably a 1pm appointment

2-4 years

Sleep-deprivation is not necessary. We ask parents to have child ready for a nap during the EEG. Preferably a 2:30pm appointment. For older children who don’t nap, parent can wake child up earlier than usual.

5-9 years

Asked to go to bed 2 hours late and be up by 5am with no more than 7 hours sleep. Preferably a morning appointment

9-15 years

Asked to go to bed 2 hours late and be up by 5am with no more than 6 hours sleep. Preferably a morning appointment

15+ years

Asked to go to bed 2 hours late and be up by 5am with no more than 7 hours sleep. Preferably a morning appointment

It is most important to wake your child up earlier than usual so that there is the longest possible time between waking and the EEG

No matter what age your child is, it is very important that he/she does not sleep in the time between waking and the EEG test.

This is most likely to occur in the car on the way to the hospital.

If your child sleeps even for a short time between waking and having the test it can refresh them enough to prevent them from falling asleep during the EEG.

Sleep deprivation can occasionally provoke seizures.

It is not recommended that you travel to and from the hospital on public transport as your child may be very sleepy after the test is done.

So that the adult accompanying your child is not also sleep deprived it is recommended that if possible, another adult supervise the sleep deprivation.

Thank you for your cooperation  

If you have any further queries please contact Specialist Clinics on (03) 9345 6180