EEG Class 1

[Sky Blue]

After a recent Class one medical I was called back to redo my EEG (Brain scan) this time under sleep deprivation.. .. .Has this happened to any one before and if so what is the idea behind the sleep deprivation. Results are due soon.. .. .SB. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />

[spudskier]

is that something you need done after 40 or so? I'm 21 and just got a Class 1 med exam a week ago, no EEG, EKG, or blood drawn, etc... Was this guy just not thourough? he just did eye sight, color blindness, blood pressure, check reflexes and *ahem* had to cough...

[foghorn]

spudskier,. .. .New JAA regulations mean an EEG at the class 1 initial medical over here in Europe.. .. .Under the old UK regulations it used to be just for helo pilots.... .. .But hey, we're European now.... .. .cheers!. .foggy.. . . . <small>[ 16 March 2002, 23:14: Message edited by: foghorn ]</small>

[gas_man]

i am not a aviation specialist, but am a doctor. i wonder what information are they looking for with an EEG? is it to see if you go nuts when tired? or perhaps some people get seizures?. .. .do let me know. .. .prasanna

[inverted flatspin]

Gas man I am not a Doctor but I have done some research into the medical certification practices of the Joint Aviation Authorities, and the EEG test is possibly the most useless test they do. I have a close friend who is a consulting cardiologist and I asked him about this test, he told me it wasn't really his speciality but he did find out about it for me from someone who knew about it. . .. .From what I can gather from my friends in the medical community that are in the know about this. .. .The EEG is a Useful tool for diagnosing epilepsy . .. .Only when some other factor presents itself i.e. siezures.. .. .The general consensus of opinion is that it is of little or no use in predicting the onset of epilepsy . .. .It is possible to pass the test and be epileptic. .and it is possible to fail the test and never have any kind of epileptic episode.. .. .Why the JAA insist on it is unknown. . .. .The FAA only require it when some other factor indicates it, usually in cases where siezure has already ocurred.. .. .The vast majority of FAA certified pilots have never had an EEG and they have about the same siezure rate as the general population.. .. .Doing the test is of no safety benefit.

[Warrior Chief]

I'm a medic but not a neurologist. As far as I know, the idea of checking the EEG is to measure baseline brain electrical activity and to see what happens when you are bombarded with some strong rhythmical stimulus.. .. .The brain wave patterns during sleep are totally different from those when you are awake and so you need to be well awake for the test. Lots of other physical/emotional factors can trigger your susceptability to abnormal brain activity such as when you last ate, drank or were aroused by a "crisis".. .. .If you have certain types of epilepsy, the abnormal wave patterns will show continuously in addition to the resting pattern. In others, the abnormalities only appear in response to a trigger of some kind. In some, they only appear during a fit.. .. .The visual stimuli used in the test are very strong but designed to trigger any potential risk of developing a siezure. Remember, that flashing lights of many types are common triggers for epileptic fits and there are plenty on modern flight decks - EFIS displays, head-up displays, wing strobe lights, passing through clouds in bright daylight, bright lights shining through prop blades or rotor blades, etc.. .. .The chances of picking something up with an EEG are pretty remote but it's like most of these tests - they are done because they are possible, not necessarily because they are useful.. .. .The highest pick-up rate of abnormalities comes from ECG's (cardiograms). The trouble is that whilst they are very sensitive at picking abnormalities that matter (true positives) they can also pick up abnormalities that look serious but may be of little significance (false positives). Just like ECG's, EEG's need careful interpretation to get the balance right.