Running a TheraQ Assessment

[Laurie Geenen]

This post provides information to help you get ready to run a TheraQ Assessment, including getting green signal quality indicators and issues that some devices have with text-to-speech. 

TheraQ takes time to acquire a good-quality signal. Expect it to take several minutes (usually 3-5 minutes, but sometimes it can take 15+ minutes) to acquire a steady, good EEG signal (denoted by green signal quality indicators) before you can start the Assessment. Patience is key, as this can't be rushed! 

This video shows you what to expect during the Assessment:
Please note this video was recorded before the release of Dive 2.7.0 and differs from how the app looks. An updated video is coming soon!

In this post

• Get ready
  
• Acquire a good signal
  
• During the Assessment
  
• Failed to Complete Assessment
  
• Android/Samsung Devices: Can't Launch an Assessment
  

[Laurie Geenen]

Get ready
This post reviews how to prepare for a successful TheraQ Assessment. 

We recommend that you run the TheraQ Assessment in a Live Session with your care provider so they can guide you to acquire and maintain a good EEG signal.

To minimize noise and artifacts in the EEG, it’s essential to run the Assessment in an appropriate space:

• Move to a quiet room without many electrical devices (best if it's just you, your mobile device, and your BrainBit). If you need to be in a room with other electronics, keep at least six feet away from computers, monitors, and any other electronic device other than your mobile device).
  
• Minimize movement.
  
• Avoid having others in the room. If someone must be in the room, they must be at least six feet away from you and refrain from moving around. Other people’s electromagnetic fields will interfere with the EEG signal.
  

The Dive application will guide you through connecting the BrainBit Flex's sensors. If your care provider has already set up the BrainBit Flex for you, click next to advance through the instructions to the screen directing you on how to wear the BrainBit Flex: 

   

[Laurie Geenen]

Acquire a Good Signal
In our experience, it takes about 3 minutes on average to get the signal to settle, assuming that the EEG is monitored continuously and the relevant sensors are adjusted with the most common techniques to improve poor signal quality:

• Give the sensors time to "warm up."
  
• Sit quietly and relax; tension in your body can affect the EEG signal.
  
• Massage the sensors into the scalp.
  
• Dampen the hair around the sensors.
  
• Hold or press the sensors into the scalp for ~30 seconds
  

You won't be able to start the Assessment until all the sensors have excellent (green) signal quality indicators. If the signal quality degrades during the Assessment it will pause so you can adjust your headset. 

   

This post has tips and tricks for getting good signal quality (green signal indicators). You can also download and review the DIVE by Divergence tips for signal quality (BrainBit Flexes) tip sheet. 

[Laurie Geenen]

During the Assessment

1. Instructions for the current section of the Assessment are displayed.
   
2. Progress through the current section.
   
3. If the EEG signal quality degrades, data collection is paused until the signal quality improves. The Assessment won't advance until it has enough data for the current section. 
   

   

[Laurie Geenen]

Error: Failed to Complete Assessment
This error appears when TheraQ isn't able to collect enough good EEG data or there is an error saving your data. You will need to complete the Assessment again. 

To prevent data issues we recommend that TheraQ Assessments are run as a Live Session with your care provider, so they can guide you to acquire a good EEG signal.

[Laurie Geenen]

Android/Samsung Devices: Can't Launch an Assessment
Are you stuck trying to launch a TheraQ Assessment with an Android/Samsung device?

The TheraQ Assessment requires your device's TTS (text-to-speech) engine to be enabled. This is what allows your device to read the instructions to you. If the TheraQ Assessment is stuck on this screen shown in the image below you'll need to enable TTS. Here's a link that shows you how to enable TTS (note that there may be slight differences between phone models and Android versions).