Neurodiagnostics

Neurodiagnostics at East Tennessee Children's Hospital performs tests and monitors neurological conditions in children. We perform tests for patients with seizures, hearing problems and other issues with the brain. Patients can be referred to Neurodiagnostics by their pediatrician or specialists.

Visiting Neurodiagnostics

When it is time to visit Neurodiagnostics for a test, patients and their families may come to our office in the Neurosciences Center on the 2nd floor of the Medical Office Building (MOB). You may bring anything from home that makes your child comfortable, like a pillow, blanket, or a special stuffed animal. There is a white noise sound machine that can be used during the sleep portion of the test.

Neurodiagnostics: 865-523-5437

Prep for Neurodiagnostics Testing:

• English (Form #30608, Rev 3/25)
• Spanish (Form #31064, Rev 5/25)

Seizures

The Neurology Lab completes tests to diagnose seizure disorders and epilepsy. Family history, EEGs, CT scans and MRIs are used by physicians to create a treatment plan for your child. No one knows exactly what causes seizures, but the following things can make a child more likely to have seizures:

• Damage to the brain before, during or immediately following birth
• Physical defects in the brain
• Injury to the head
• Poisoning, usually with lead or alcohol
• Brain damage due to infections
• Brain tumors
• Lack of proper nutrition to the brain

EEGs

An electroencephalogram or EEG tests the electrical impulses of your child's brain. The test usually takes about an hour and a half. Your child will need to sleep during part of the test. Our staff is well-trained to use natural methods to get your child to fall asleep. Sedation is used in some cases in which the child cannot fall asleep or is very uncooperative. The EEG is not painful.

A child's EEG results are very different than an adult's. All test results are sent to our team of pediatric neurologists for review, then results are sent to your child's pediatrician.

How to Prepare for your Testing Day

Prep for Neurodiagnostics Testing:

• English (Form #30608, Rev 3/25)
• Spanish (Form #31064, Rev 5/25)

BAER Testing

Neurodiagnostics also does brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) tests to measure your child's hearing. These tests can find out if your child has hearing loss or other problems affecting the brainstem. Children must be relaxed and as still as possible during the test. The entire test takes about an hour and a half.

VER Testing

A visual evoked response (VER) test measures the brain's reaction to what your child sees. Electrodes will be placed on your child's head to track their eyes' reaction to patterns, designs and flashing lights. Each eye will be tested separately. A VER test helps diagnose nerve or brain problems affecting vision.

For testing information, call Neurodiagnostics at
(865) 523-5437.