Health Library Explorer
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A-Z Listings Contact Us
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Click a letter to see a list of medical procedures beginning with that letter.
Click 'Back to Intro' to return to the beginning of this section.

Evoked Potential Testing

Your healthcare provider may order evoked potential tests. These check the signals your brain and spinal cord (parts of your nervous system) get from other parts of your body. These tests are also used to check for problems with:

  • Vision

  • Hearing

  • Sensory or motor function

What is evoked potential testing?

There are several types of evoked potential tests:

  • Visual

  • Brainstem auditory

  • Motor

  • Somatosensory

Your healthcare provider may order any or all of these tests. They show if nerve impulses are conducting at the right speed and intensity. The signals are responses to what you see, hear, or feel during the tests.

During the test, the technologist will look at wavy lines ( waveforms) on a screen or on paper. These lines show the activity in your brain and other parts of your body. They are studied to help figure out your test results. They can help your healthcare provider diagnose and treat you. For instance, in people with multiple sclerosis, the evoked potentials are slowed down because they don't conduct in the right way. These tests are also used during surgery to help the surgeon to safely do some procedures.

  • The visual evoked potential test may be used to check for vision or visual processing problems.

  • The brainstem auditory evoked potential test may be used to check your hearing and auditory processing.

  • The motor evoked potential test may be used to test motor function signals from the brain and spinal cord. This is very helpful in spine surgery.

  • The somatosensory evoked potential test may be used to check the nerve pathways between the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain.

Woman with electrodes on head looking at checkerboard screen during visual evoked potential test.
Visual evoked potential test.

My next appointment is:

Image

Online Medical Reviewer: Anne Fetterman RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Heather M Trevino BSN RNC
Online Medical Reviewer: Mahammad Juber MD
Date Last Reviewed: 4/1/2024
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
The health content and information on this site is made possible through the generous support of the Haspel Education Fund.
StayWell Disclaimer