Prepare for Your Evoked Potentials Test

These tests record the brain's electrical response to visual (VER), auditory (BSAER), and sensory stimuli (SER). They are used to diagnose many diseases of the spinal cord and brain. Common symptoms that are assessed with evoked potentials include dizziness, numbness and tingling, and certain visual disorders.

Here's what is involved with each of the tests:

• During VER, you will be asked to focus your eyes on a video monitor
• During a BSAER, you will be asked to listen to sounds while wearing a headset
• SER uses a mild electrical stimulus to the wrist or ankle to test sensation

You do not have to prepare for these tests in any special way. Each test takes about an hour.