Quick Answer
An electroencephalogram records the brain’s electrical activity through scalp sensors. The recording is passive and no electricity is delivered. Performed at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147 and interpreted within the practice by a neurologist with fellowship training in epilepsy.
Part ofThis guide sits beneath eeg testing, which covers the study itself, how it is performed and what the report should contain.
EEG Testing →Key Takeaways
- The recording is passive. No electricity is delivered to you at any point.
- A routine study samples twenty to forty minutes, so a normal result means nothing appeared in that window.
- Over-calling a normal variant is the more consequential error, because it can mean years of unnecessary medication.
- The protocol includes eyes open and closed, deep breathing, and a flashing light that is stopped if it has any effect.
- Performed at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147 and interpreted within the practice.
Electroencephalography
An electroencephalogram records the brain's electrical activity through sensors placed on the scalp. It is used to look for patterns associated with seizures and to help classify unexplained episodes.
What the recording captures, and what it cannot
An electroencephalogram records the brain’s electrical activity through the scalp. Nothing is delivered to the patient; the recording is entirely passive, which is the first thing worth knowing because most people assume otherwise.
A window rather than a verdict
A routine recording samples a short period, typically twenty to forty minutes. Epilepsy is intermittent by definition, so a normal recording means nothing abnormal appeared during that window rather than that nothing is wrong. That is the single most misread result in this area, and it is why the account of the event, particularly from someone who witnessed it, continues to carry more diagnostic weight than the study. Where events are infrequent, multi-day ambulatory monitoring exists precisely because the window is the limitation.
The opposite error, which matters more
Over-calling. Several entirely normal variants closely resemble abnormalities, and a recording read as abnormal when it is not can commit a patient to years of medication they never needed and a driving restriction they never warranted. That is a real harm rather than a theoretical one, and it is the reason interpretation is kept within the practice by a physician with fellowship training in epilepsy rather than sent out.
What the protocol includes
Periods with eyes open and closed. Deep breathing for a short interval, which can bring out certain patterns. And a flashing light, which is stopped immediately if it produces any effect. Some studies deliberately request reduced sleep beforehand, because sleep deprivation makes abnormal activity more likely to appear, and that instruction is given individually rather than assumed.
| Also considered | How it is distinguished |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory EEG | Records over several days at home and captures events a short recording can miss. |
| MRI | Shows structure; EEG shows electrical function. |
| Cardiac monitoring | Used where fainting rather than seizure is suspected. |
| Sleep study | Preferred where events arise only from sleep and a sleep disorder is suspected. |
Preparation and what the appointment involves
01
What brings people in
An unexplained episode, a first seizure, or a need to classify events before or during treatment.
02
What the evaluation settles
Whether epileptiform patterns are present, whether findings are focal or generalised, and whether a longer recording is needed.
03
What you leave with
An interpreted recording read by a neurologist, with a clear statement of what a normal study does and does not exclude.
Hair, and why it is the one instruction that matters
Wash your hair the night before or that morning and use nothing afterwards: no conditioner left in, no oil, gel, spray or dry shampoo. Sensors are attached with paste and residue interferes with contact, which degrades the recording. Braids, extensions and hairpieces make placement difficult, so mention them when booking rather than on arrival.
What it feels like
Sensors are attached to the scalp with a paste, which is cool and slightly sticky. You rest quietly, sometimes with your eyes closed, and may be asked to breathe deeply for a period. Nothing is uncomfortable and no electricity is delivered. Many patients doze, which is useful rather than a problem, because sleep frequently reveals activity that wakefulness does not.
Afterwards
The paste washes out with ordinary shampoo, occasionally needing a second wash. No recovery period, ordinary activity resumes immediately and no driver is required, unless reduced sleep was requested as part of the protocol, in which case arranging a lift is sensible.
Who interprets it
A neurologist with fellowship training in epilepsy, within the practice, at both offices. That matters because normal variants resemble abnormalities and the consequence of over-calling is years of unnecessary treatment. The American Epilepsy Society publishes the clinical guidance this follows.
The first 30, 60 and 90 days
Step 1
First visit
History and neurological examination, a review of records and prior imaging, and a decision on which studies are actually indicated. You leave with the plan, not just a referral.
Step 2
Within 30 days
Indicated in-office studies are performed and interpreted by the neurologist who ordered them, in our AANEM-accredited laboratories. Results are explained in plain language.
Step 3
60 to 90 days
Follow-up to judge whether the plan is working, adjust it, and coordinate with your referring clinician. Where a diagnosis needs time to confirm, this is where it is revisited.
Attending from Las Vegas
The Las Vegas office is at 7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, in Sunrise Medical Plaza, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is sent across to Henderson. If you are coming from Summerlin, Spring Valley or Enterprise this is almost always the shorter journey. Adults 18 and older.
Referred for an EEG?
Wash your hair beforehand and leave nothing in it. That single instruction affects the recording quality most.
The Bottom Line
The recording is passive and the result is a window rather than a verdict. Both of those are worth knowing before you attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an EEG hurt or deliver a shock?
Neither. Sensors are attached to the scalp with a cool, slightly sticky paste and the recording is entirely passive. No electricity is delivered to you at any point, which is the commonest misconception about this study. Nothing enters the body, no medication is given, and you remain awake and aware throughout unless sleep is part of the protocol.
Why does the hair instruction matter so much?
Because sensors attach with paste and any residue interferes with contact, which degrades the recording. Wash your hair beforehand and use no conditioner, oil, gel, spray or dry shampoo afterwards. Mention braids, extensions or hairpieces when booking. Arriving with clean, dry, product-free hair shortens the setup considerably and improves the quality of the recording.
My EEG was normal. Does that rule out epilepsy?
No. A routine recording samples twenty to forty minutes, and epilepsy is intermittent by definition, so a normal result means nothing abnormal appeared in that window. The description of your events continues to carry more diagnostic weight than the study. Where events are infrequent, multi-day ambulatory recording is the usual next step.
Can an EEG be wrong in the other direction?
Yes, and it matters more. Several normal variants closely resemble abnormalities, and a recording over-called as abnormal can lead to years of unnecessary medication and a driving restriction. That is why interpretation is kept in-house with fellowship training in epilepsy. Asking who read your recording, and what their training is, is a reasonable question.
Will I need to stay awake the night before?
Sometimes. Reduced sleep makes abnormal activity more likely to appear, so it is occasionally requested deliberately. That instruction is given individually rather than assumed, and if it applies, arranging a lift home is sensible. If sleep deprivation is requested, follow the instruction precisely, because a partial version reduces the value of the study.
Is it a problem if I fall asleep?
No, it is useful. Sleep frequently reveals activity that wakefulness does not, so dozing during the recording helps rather than hinders. There is no need to fight it, and the technologist will not wake you unless the protocol requires a period of wakefulness for comparison. Many recordings are more informative because the patient slept.
Is anything put into me?
No. Sensors sit on the scalp surface and are held with paste. The recording is passive and no electricity, dye or medication is administered. The paste washes out with ordinary shampoo, and you can wash your hair as soon as you get home. Nothing is injected and nothing is swallowed.
Where exactly is the Las Vegas office?
7751 W. Flamingo Road, Suite A-100, Las Vegas NV 89147, in Sunrise Medical Plaza on the west side of the valley, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is referred across to the Henderson office. Summerlin, Spring Valley and Enterprise are generally closer to it than to Horizon Ridge Parkway.
Should I use the Las Vegas or the Henderson office?
Whichever is the shorter drive, since both are fully equipped and hold the same records. West Flamingo Road generally suits the west and southwest of the valley; West Horizon Ridge Parkway suits Green Valley, Anthem and Boulder City. If you can attend either, say so when booking, because availability differs between the two week to week.
What do I do about my hair?
Wash it beforehand and then use nothing at all: no conditioner, oil, gel, spray or dry shampoo. Sensors attach with paste and any residue degrades contact, which degrades the recording. Mention braids, extensions or a hairpiece when booking so enough time is allowed. The paste washes out with ordinary shampoo afterwards.
How this page was sourced
Practice facts come from Clinical Neurology Specialists directly: that the study is performed at both offices and interpreted within the practice by a neurologist with fellowship training in epilepsy. Clinical context is sourced to the organisations listed below.
No specific waveform findings, prevalence figures or detection rates are published, because interpretation depends on the individual recording and the clinical context. Nevada driving requirements are referred to rather than quoted, because they change and are applied case by case. No outcome is promised. Scope is adults 18 and older.
Change log
- 2026-07-28 — page published; clinical content reviewed.
- 2026-07-28 — last reviewed against AAN, AANEM and NINDS guidance; internal links and schema verified.
- Review cadence: quarterly, or sooner if guidance changes.
How to cite this page
Clinical Neurology Specialists. “Electroencephalogram Las Vegas.” Reviewed 2026-07-28. https://www.cnsnevada.com/diagnostic-testing/eeg-testing/electroencephalogram-las-vegas/
References
- American Epilepsy Society — clinical guidance on epilepsy and electroencephalography.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — the reference catalogue of nervous-system disorders.
- American Academy of Neurology — practice guidance and specialist supply.
This page is for general information about a Clinical Neurology Specialists office and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Adults 18 and older. For an active stroke, a first-time or prolonged seizure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness, sudden vision loss, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.