Experience has shown us that the best result is obtained for infants and children over 1mth of age if testing is performed while the patient is sedated. Neonates are usually tested during natural sleep following a feed. Older uncooperative children who do not sedate satisfactorily are tested under General Anaesthetic if this is considered justified by the parents and the clinician. Admission is usually to Day Ward. The patient is brought to the Neurology Dept. when asleep.
Parents remain with the patient and the procedure and results are explained as testing progresses.
Restless patients are occasionally nursed by their parent. Electrode Placement Gold cup recording electrodes are taped on each mastoid close to the pinna, at the vertex and a ground is on the fore-head. Low balanced impedance values are as in all evoked potential work, essential to good recordings. We display our responses vertex positive polarity up. Stimulus Parameters Initial screening is performed using 100us clicks followed by further recordings using tone-pips, if time permits and if a hearing loss is suggested by the click responses.