An electroneurodiagnostic technologist is a highly trained health care professional who performs complex tests involving nervous system monitoring, recording, analysis, and study. The brain, peripheral nervous system, and spinal cord are all studied in this field. Initially, those working in the field were referred to as electroencephalic technologists; however, as the field expanded beyond brain-related issues, the terminology changed.
An electroneurodiagnostic technologist can record electrical impulses transmitted the nervous system and brain using equipment such as an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine. Medical doctors can use them to help diagnose brain tumors, epilepsy, strokes, and various sleep disorders. An electroneurodiagnostic technologist’s responsibilities also include measuring the effects of certain infectious diseases on the brain and determining whether a patient has a medical condition such as Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, cerebral death, or a lack of activity in the brain, can be evaluated to determine the likelihood of recovery from a coma or a brain injury.
The recording of a patient’s EEG activity may be the sole responsibility of an electroneurodiagnostic technologist. She may begin giving the patient a briefing and taking his medical history. She will then place electrodes connected to the electroencephalograph on the patient’s scalp. She must be able to operate the equipment and interpret the results for each individual patient based on his condition. She must also be able to communicate the findings to the patient’s physician.
An electroneurodiagnostic technologist’s responsibilities also include performing other tests. She might be asked to track and analyze the body’s visual, auditory, and somatosensory pathways, for example. It’s also not uncommon for her to conduct nerve conduction studies, in which she stimulates the peripheral nerves and records their responses. Polysomnography is a common test that tracks a patient’s sleep patterns and records any changes in their body or brain function. Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring, in which a patient’s brain and nerve activity are monitored during surgery, may also be performed an electroneurodiagnostic technologist.
During a testing session, an electroneurodiagnostic technologist may be required to respond, particularly if a medical emergency occurs. At such times, she must act quickly and effectively. She will also debrief the patient after the testing and write a report for the patient’s medical doctor and file, regardless of whether there is an emergency situation. For those who are interested in the brain, spine, and nervous system, it is a rewarding job.