SSEP Test Services by Healing Hands Diagnostic
Healing Hands Diagnostic offers comprehensive Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP) tests to evaluate the sensory pathways in your nervous system. This non-invasive neurophysiological test helps diagnose conditions like spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders.
What is an SSEP Test?
An SSEP (Somatosensory Evoked Potentials) test is a diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the function of sensory pathways in the nervous system. During the test, small electrical stimuli are applied to specific parts of the body, typically the hands or feet. Electrodes placed on the scalp and other body areas record the resulting electrical activity. This activity is then analyzed to identify any abnormalities or disruptions in the sensory pathways. The SSEP test is commonly used to diagnose conditions such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders. It helps determine the time it takes for nerve signals to travel from the point of stimulation to the brain, providing crucial information for medical assessment and treatment.
When is an SSEP Test Used?
If you experience weakness or numbness in your arms or legs, an SSEP test may be recommended. These subtle sensations often indicate issues in the somatosensory nerve pathways that a regular clinical examination might not detect.
What Does the SSEP Test Detect?
The SSEP test measures the time it takes for nerve signals to travel from the wrist or ankle to detection sites on the neck, scalp, or back. By analyzing these responses, neurologists can assess nerve function and detect issues like demyelination, a process associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) that can delay or block signal transmission.
Preparing for an SSEP Test
- Notify: Inform the technician if you have a pacemaker.
- Eat Normally: You can eat a regular meal before the procedure.
- Medications: Bring a list of your medications.
- Avoid Sedatives: Do not take sedatives or drugs that cause drowsiness.
- Relax: Arrive on time and try to relax; no special preparation is needed.
How the SSEP Test Works
- Preparation: Remove jewelry and wear a hospital gown. The technician cleans the skin areas for electrode placement.
- Electrode Placement: Electrodes are attached to the skin over the nerves being tested, the scalp, and other relevant areas.
- Stimulation: Mild electrical pulses are delivered to the nerves. These pulses may cause a tingling sensation but are generally painless.
- Recording: The electrical activity generated by the stimuli is recorded and analyzed.
- Analysis: The signals are compared to normal values to identify any abnormalities in the sensory pathways.
What Happens During an SSEP Test?
- Electrode Attachment: Electrodes are attached to your scalp, neck, and back.
- Stimulation: Electrical impulses stimulate nerves in your wrist or ankle, causing slight twitching in your thumb or toe.
- Recording: The equipment records your responses to the stimulation.
- Completion: After the test, electrodes are removed, and you can go home.
Contact Us
- 61, Kishan Kunj, Extn - 1, Gali No 2, Near Pahelwan Dairy, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi - 110092
- +91 83949 69411,+91 8929211058,
- healinghandasdiagnostic@gmail.com