What condition is often diagnosed using EEG recordings of spike and wave discharges?

The condition commonly diagnosed using EEG recordings of spike and wave discharges is absence seizures. This type of seizure is characterized by brief episodes of impaired consciousness, often lasting just a few seconds. The hallmark of absence seizures on an EEG is the presence of a specific pattern known as spike-and-wave complexes, which appear as rhythmic bursts of spikes followed by slow waves.

This distinctive pattern is typically observed at a frequency of around 3 Hz and is crucial for the diagnosis of absence seizures, particularly in children. In contrast, while EEG can be used to evaluate other conditions like epileptic seizures in general, the characteristic spike-and-wave discharges are specifically indicative of absence seizures rather than other types of seizures. Sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury do not have these specific EEG findings associated with them, making absence seizures the most accurate choice in this context.