What to Expect During Your Neurological Evaluation
At Southwest Brain Performance Centers, our Neurological Evaluation is a combination of several comprehensive and detailed appointments. To determine the overall condition of each of our patients, we combine a qEEG brain map, advanced diagnostic testing, a complete functional neurological examination, and additional lab testing, if necessary.
As a New Neuro patient, you will be scheduled for four individual appointments:
- Brain Map (qEEG) - this appointment will last an hour.
- Diagnostic Testing - this appointment will last an hour and a half.
- Report of Findings for the Brain Map - this appointment will last an hour.
- Neuro Evaluation - this appointment will last an hour and a half.
qEEG Brain Mapping
A Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG), better known as a Brain Map, is an assessment tool designed to objectively and scientifically evaluate a person’s brainwave patterns.
With you sitting in a comfortable chair, your doctor will place a snug cap on your head, much like a tight-fitting swim cap. Embedded within the cap are 19 small sensors designed to measure and record brainwave activity.
A saline gel is injected into the connection ports to ensure an excellent connection to the system. The gel will sit on your scalp and hair and is not injected into the skin. It is important to note these sensors do not put any electrical current in the brain; they record signals from the brain.
During the Brain Map, your doctor will instruct you to keep your eyes open or closed while the computer collects data. Once the results are processed, your doctor will review this information with you at a subsequent appointment.
Diagnostic Testing
We use cutting-edge diagnostic techniques and technologies to measure postural control, reaction times, motor accuracy and neurological endurance, all in a concerted effort to identify the areas of the brain and central nervous system that are being affected. The initial diagnostic testing results serve as benchmarks against which therapy results are measured.
What we use
A Complete Functional Neurological Examination
To identify any potential neurological conditions, the doctor will take your vital signs and review your medical history before beginning the examination. Heart rate, oxygenation, blood pressure, and temperature are among the data that can be used to identify the underlying causes of dysautonomia, a condition in which the autonomic nervous system (ANS) malfunctions. This protocol helps your doctor evaluate your overall wellness and any possible risks to your nervous system.
The next phase of the examination identifies the brain or nervous system regions that have dysfunction or have been injured. You may be asked to perform tasks such as touching your finger to your nose, walking in a straight line, reciting the alphabet while skipping every other letter, or even following a target with your eyes as it moves. While these tasks seem essential, your performance provides important clues to your neurologic health puzzle. Your doctor will then perform a thorough structural exam to identify any muscular imbalances and areas of pain, focusing on the specific areas of complaint.
To conclude the exam, your doctor will review the results of your physical examination and diagnostic testing. Additional laboratory testing may be recommended to give the doctor more precise information. Combining your results and medical history provides the basis for a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique condition(s).
Additional Laboratory Testing
Immune problems and gut issues can often impact brain function. Comprehensive blood panels may be ordered to determine the most appropriate way to manage your condition. At SWBPC, we utilize the testing provided by several laboratories: Labrix by Doctor’s Data, Dunwoody Labs, US BioTek Laboratories, Brain Span, and Cyrex Laboratories.
Our doctors only select the necessary tests to assess your comprehensive metabolic panel, food sensitivities, gut health, hormone levels, and inflammatory markers. We will refer you to the appropriate local phlebotomy lab for blood work, as we do not perform these services in-house.
