Neurological Diagnostics Specialists in Heidelberg, VIC
At Heidelberg Neurology in Melbourne, our specialists provide expert services designed to diagnose multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
Epilepsy is due to intermittent episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can be ‘focal’ (affecting a focal area of the brain), or ‘generalised’ affecting the whole brain. The manifestations of the seizure vary according to which part of the brain is affected. Epilepsy is diagnosed by taking a careful history of events from the patient and an eyewitness. An EEG ‘brain-wave test’ can help identify where seizures are arising in the brain. Most patients become seizure free with anti-epilepsy medications, however some require more intensive assessment.
Stroke is caused by abnormal blood flow to the brain. The clinical manifestations of stroke vary according to the area of the brain affected. There are two main types:
a) Ischaemic stroke (85% of strokes) is due to a blocked blood vessel, causing the area of brain supplied by that blood vessel to die;
b) Haemorrhagic stroke is due to a burst blood vessel, causing blood to leak into the brain. Strokes can affect large or small blood vessels. Temporary neurologic symptoms can be due to a ‘TIA’ (transient ischaemic attack, ‘ministroke’), where there is a temporary block in blood flow. These require urgent assessment to reduce the risk of a permanent stroke.
A chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.
Migraine is a common neurological disorder, characterised by moderate to severe headache and with associated symptoms
Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is a pain in your head or face. This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull.
A progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
This term refers to a type of test performed in neurology, most commonly a nerve conduction study (NCS) and an electromyogram (EMG). Sometimes, both tests are performed. A General Practitioner can order neurophysiology tests, but most commonly these tests are ordered by a neurologist. Neurophysiology testing is complicated, and requires specialised training to perform and to interpret test results. Other neurophysiological testing that can be performed is an electroencephalogram (EEG), most commonly to detect abnormalities in the brain waves.
