Advanced Diagnostic Testing for Neurological Issues in Northern California
If you have signs or symptoms of a neurological condition, your neurologist may order diagnostic testing to help make or confirm a diagnosis.
At Dignity Health North State, our neurologists have access to some of the most advanced neurodiagnostic technologies to support the diagnosis and treatment of complex neurological issues. Find a Doctor who has expertise in diagnostic testing in Northern California.
When is Diagnostic Testing Used During Neurological Exams?
Neurological exams evaluate nerve, spinal cord, and brain function in order for your doctor to make a diagnosis. Because many neurological conditions share signs and symptoms, additional testing may be needed to confirm a diagnosis or rule out certain conditions.
Common neurological diagnostic tests include:
- Neurological CT scan, an imaging scan of the brain and spine
- Brain scan
- Electromyogram (EMG)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Visual evoked potential (VEP)
- Myelography
- Evoked potential (EP)
- Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP or SSEP)
- Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP)
What to Expect During a Neurological Diagnostic Test at Dignity Health North State
Some types of neurological diagnostic testing are noninvasive such as electroencephalogram (EEG), which records electrical impulses. Others, such as myelography and spinal tap, are invasive. Regardless of the test, your Dignity Health neurology team will let you know what to expect during the test and how to minimize your risk of complications.
It may take a few days for your doctor to come to a decision about the test results or images. In the case of imaging tests, additional experts, such as radiologists, may be asked to review the results.
Recovering After Neurological Diagnostic Testing
Imaging tests don’t require recovery time. You can usually go home or back to work once they are complete. However, other diagnostic tests may require you to stay with a nurse in a recovery area. If your test requires a skin puncture, such as an imaging test that requires the injection of contrast material, you doctor will tell you how to care for the needle site afterward.
Neurological diagnostic testing helps your doctor make a diagnosis as quickly as possible. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin. Talk to you doctor about any questions or concerns you have about your tests.
Dignity Health North State offers state-of-the-art neurological diagnostic testing in Mt. Shasta, Red Bluff, and Redding, CA.
