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What will a Sleep-Deprived EEG reveal about VERBAL APRAXIA?

My son, age 5-years-old, has severe Apraxia of Speech; however he is verbal, just unintelligible, with very few spontaneous words. [Can say "did", "yeah", "no", "Bob", "Dooby Doo" (Scooby Doo)] He has said some words under stress (i.e."move"). He has omissons, errors, and so forth typical with all the signs and symptoms of verbal apraxia.
What will a "Sleep-Deprived EEG" hope to show me about his Apraxia? And how can the information be helpful in treating his Apraxia of Speech?
Thanks,
Susan
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242606 tn?1243782648
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
My sense is that you are right in thinking that the EEG is designed to investigate seizure disorder. Beyond that, I can't imagine it will be useful. IN addition, I imagine that the neurologist did not endorse the notion of an MRI because she really does not think there is evidence of any lesion, tumor or other insult to the brain. In other words, if she did not imagine gleaning anything from the procedure she would not order it. Had you not requested the EEG as an alternative, it's likely that would not have been ordered either. It's not a small thing to rule out seizure disorder, but if there is no clinical evidence of such a condition the EEG takes on less significance.
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Avatar universal
She did not say specifically; however, she said it would tell "some things" about the Apraxia. Perhaps, because she mentioned that there are some seizure disorders that occur in infancy that go away as the child grows older, she is trying to rule out seizures as the possible cause (which obviously would not be evident to us) so that she can definitively say that the verbal apraxia is from the anoxia after birth. I actually asked for a functional MRI as well, which I thought would be very specific. Certainly, there is a moment in time that they can get images (during a still moment watching a video or something)? She actually said that she thought having an MRI would be doing my son an "injustice", but she did not say why. (Perhaps because of difficulty getting him to stay still?) The pediatrician and I thought it would be an excellent way to determine exactly where an infarcts or lesions are, even the neurologist apparently didn't..
When she declined that, I asked for an EEG (not knowing it would mean sleep deprivation for me, the "two-hour" sole driver, "and" him) because I had been told by his speech pathologist (who we see again on the 8th) that an asleep EEG or an awake MRI could confirm what they already knew by the facts of his birth. (being without oxygen or CPR for an extended period of time). So, I got a referral and I went asking for both; I actually thought the MRI would have given more information to better treat the Apraxia. (Maybe, I am wrong?)
Susan
Helpful - 1
242606 tn?1243782648
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I cannot presume to know what the doctor is investigating by ordering the EEG. If there are abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain, it can indicate the presence of seizure disorder, the possibility of lesion (depending on the nature of the abnormal electrical activity), etc. But in reality an EEG taps very little, relatively, of the total mass of the brain. Your description indicates that your son's condition is acquired apraxia, not developmental. It would surprise me if the EEG contributes much, if anything, to the knowledge about your son's apraxia. What did the doctor tell you is the purpose of the EEG?
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Avatar universal
Actually, we think the Apraxia is due to severe lack of oxygen at birth. (Acquired essentially after he was born.)
So, "specifically" what conditions can a sleep-deprived EEG reveal or rule out?
Are you saying that (assuming the facts I have given you) the doc assumes that it is developmental? Or are you saying that an EEG (sleep-deprived) will possibly reveal a tumor or lesion and the necessity to perform other tests? (Or are you saying both?)
If the latter is what you are saying, could you please enlighten me on how an EEG would reveal lesions or tumors? ( I can handle the technical explanation)
[P.S. It is doubtful that this is developmental Apraxia and more probable that it is due to anoxia after birth....(Homebirth and midwife's oxygen tank was faulty and for whatever reason, CPR was not performed untl EMT's arrived.At that point, he was intubated and transported.)]
Susan
Helpful - 1
242606 tn?1243782648
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm assuming that your son displays developmental, not acquired, apraxia. Acquired apraxia can be caused by damage to the portion of the brain that controls speech. Imaging studies with children who display developmental apraxia have not shown abnormal results of this sort. I assume that the EEG has been ordered to rule out any abnormality, rather than because your son's doctors asume there is some abnormality (e.g., lesion, tumor).
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
THANK YOU. ;0)
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