An EEG (electroencephalogram, electroencephalograph or electroneurodiagnostic) technician is a health care professional who is responsible for operating equipment that measures the electrical activity of the brain, as well as other parts of the nervous system such as the spinal cord. EEG techs work in neurology, a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system.
Role
EEG techs work under the supervision of a neurologist---a physician who is trained to investigate and treat neurological disorders. EEG techs attach about 16 to 25 small, flat metal disks called electrodes, wired from an EEG machine to patients' scalps. The electrodes pick up brainwaves, the small electrical currents produced by the nerves in the brain. The EEG tech then adjusts the control module of the machine to produce accurate data, which appears as patterns on a computer screen. The EEG tech then saves the data for the neurologist to use in interpretation and diagnosis.
Disorders
EEG testing is most commonly used for diagnosing epilepsy. However, there are several other applications, which include diagnosis of brain tumors, sleep disorders, strokes and Alzheimer's disease. Information from the work of EEG techs are often use for medical research on these disorders.
Workplace
Most EEG technicians work in hospitals, although they can also be found in clinics or neurologists' offices. In office settings, EEG techs usually have a standard 40-hour work week, while in larger facilities with around-the-clock health care like hospitals, EEG techs can occasionally expect to work longer hours.
Education
Although some EEG techs enter the field with only a high school diploma, thus relying on on-the-job training, most employers prefer those with at least an associate degree in electroneurodiagnostic technology from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The degree can be obtained from a community college or technical school within two years. EEG techs can choose to gain certification from the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic Technologies (ABRET).
Salary
According to Salary.com, the median annual salary of an EEG tech is around $41,000. The bottom 10 percent make around $34,000, while the top 10 percent make around $55,000. The job outlook for an EEG tech should be excellent: A rapidly aging baby boomer generation, susceptible to neurological problems, will boost the demand for these health care professionals.
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