Improving epilepsy diagnosis in children and young adults using brainwave (EEG) monitoring in their home
Endeavour Project Grant
£112,290
Dr Kimberley Whitehead
King's College London
Children with epilepsy often experience sleep problems and other health difficulties, such as gastrointestinal issues. Home EEG monitoring is widely used to support diagnosis, but up to half of recordings are classed as non-diagnostic, meaning they are not fully used in clinical decision-making. We believe these “non-seizure” EEG periods may still contain valuable information, particularly when considered alongside a child’s overall health, sleep, and physiological data.
This study will analyse existing home EEG recordings from 1,524 patients in a large NHS Trust in London, alongside heart rate data and medical records. We will investigate whether EEG features during non-seizure periods can provide insights into sleep quality, brain–body interactions, and broader health conditions beyond epilepsy. Using validated analytical approaches, including clinician-supervised artificial intelligence, we will explore whether these patterns can improve diagnostic accuracy and identify differences in how useful EEG is across different patient groups. The study will also begin integrating broader clinical information in later stages, in line with patient and public involvement feedback.
This research could improve the speed and accuracy of epilepsy diagnosis by making better use of EEG data that is currently overlooked. It may also help identify EEG “signatures” linked to overall brain and body health, supporting more targeted treatment approaches. In addition, the study highlights the importance of considering wider wellbeing in epilepsy care, with potential benefits for safety, treatment guidance, and quality of life for children and families.
