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Neurodiagnostic Lab

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health uses a comprehensive approach to investigate neurologic disorder symptoms. Assessments often include specialized testing in our neurophysiology and neurodiagnostic lab.

Neurodiagnostics at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health: Why choose us?

Highly trained technicians use state-of-the-art equipment to collect accurate testing data under the supervision of our subspecialty-trained neurologists. Our trusted experts precisely interpret the data so that you receive the most appropriate care.

Tests such as electroencephalograms and nerve conduction studies help us identify the source of issues that are often challenging to diagnose. Our health system is one of the few in the Pacific Northwest offering advanced options.

Neurodiagnostic studies we offer

Your care team may recommend:

  • An EEG enables us to assess electrical activity in the brain. We often use it to confirm an epilepsy diagnosis and pinpoint the location of seizure activity. Find out more about EEG and epilepsy testing.

    We may also use EEGs to evaluate:

    • Brain damage due to head trauma
    • Changes in brain activity that may occur after a stroke
    • Fainting spells (syncope) not due to a heart issue
  • These assessments help us investigate the cause of neuromuscular disease symptoms, such as muscle weakness, spasms, nerve pain and numbness. 

    • EMGs assess electrical activity in the muscles to determine the health of the muscles and nerves connected to them. 
    • Nerve conduction studies measure electrical signals as they travel along nerves.
  • These tests assess the function of the nerves controlling eye movement, hearing and balance. They also check for subtle, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus). We may perform an ENG or VNG to pinpoint the cause of dizziness or balance problems.

  • This test assesses your vestibular system (inner ear, vestibular nerve and parts of the brain), which regulates balance. It determines whether balance issues start in the inner ear or brain.

  • This test measures how long it takes sensory input signals like physical touch to travel from the peripheral nerves to the brain. You may benefit from a somatosensory evoked potential if you are experiencing numbness or weakness.

  • A visual evoked potential focuses on the optic nerve, which relays visual input to your brain. You may benefit from a visual evoked potential if you are experiencing vision-related multiple sclerosis complications, like optic neuritis. It’s also for brain tumors (gliomas) affecting the optic nerve.

Services by location

Location/city

Services available

Burien

EEG

Federal Way

Carpal tunnel nerve conduction study

Gig Harbor

EEG

Lakewood

EEG

Lynnwood

Carpal tunnel nerve conduction study

Seattle

EEG, electronystamography (ENG), rotational test, somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), visual evoked potentials (VEP), carpel tunnel nerve conduction study

Silverdale

EEG, carpel tunnel nerve conduction study

Tacoma

EEG, electronystamography (ENG), carpel tunnel nerve conduction study

Contact us

Our specialists care for patients across the Puget Sound area and beyond. Find a neurologist near you.