Neurophysiology

Our neurophysiology service tests the brain, nerves and muscles to give your doctor a clear basis for a diagnosis. These tests measure nervous-system function directly, which a scan cannot do. It's a testing service that supports the work of neurology, neurosurgery and many other teams across our hospitals.

What is neurophysiology?

Neurophysiology, also called clinical neurophysiology, is the branch of medicine that records and interprets the electrical signals your nervous system produces. It measures how the brain, nerves and muscles are working, rather than how they look on a scan. Doctors use it to help diagnose conditions such as epilepsy, nerve damage and muscle disorders, and to see how far it has progressed. It's a diagnostic service: the tests help find the cause, and your neurologist or surgeon manages the treatment.

Who is referred for neurophysiology tests?

Your GP or a specialist may arrange neurophysiology tests to look into:

• Seizures or blackouts that may be caused by epilepsy
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms, hands or legs
• Muscle weakness, wasting or cramps with no clear cause
• Possible nerve damage, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or a trapped nerve
• Signs of multiple sclerosis or other problems affecting nerve pathways
• Sleep problems that may need a sleep study

You don't usually come to neurophysiology on your own. Your doctor will refer you after examining you if further tests are needed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. The tests don't treat the problem; they give your doctor clear information so you can plan the right care together, and the results are sent back to the doctor who referred you.

What to expect

What happens depends on the test. For an EEG (electroencephalogram), small sensors are placed on your scalp to record your brainwaves while you rest, and sometimes while you sleep. The EEG itself is painless, and you can usually return to your normal activities straight afterwards.

Nerve conduction studies use small electrical pulses on the skin to measure how well your nerves carry signals. Electromyography (EMG) uses a fine needle to record the electrical activity inside a muscle. Most tests take between 30 minutes and an hour.

The tests are safe and, apart from the small needle used in EMG, usually cause little more than a mild tingling sensation. A neurophysiologist reviews the recordings and sends a full report to your referring doctor, which may take a few days. Your doctor will then explain the results and what happens next. Any treatment is arranged by your neurology, surgical or other specialist team.

Neurophysiology at Mediclinic

We provide neurophysiology testing at our hospitals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Our tests include EEG, nerve conduction studies, and EMG. We also carry out evoked potentials, which test the pathways that carry signals for sight, hearing and touch. Our neurophysiologists run and interpret the test results. They work closely with neurology, neurosurgery, and other hospital teams, since these tests support diagnosis across many specialities. Where a nerve or muscle sample needs laboratory analysis, we can send it to a specialist reference laboratory.