We offer comprehensive evaluation and sleep testing based on referral from your physician.
Evaluation
After you have been referred to us, you will be contacted by a member of our scheduling team. Your first appointment will be an approximately 60-minute consultation with one of our sleep providers. A week prior to your first visit with the sleep provider you will be assigned a questionnaire in your myDH portal. It is helpful to complete your questionnaire prior to your appointment to allow your provider time to review the information before meeting with you.
Testing
There are several common sleep tests that may be ordered by your sleep provider, depending on what sleep disorder they are looking for:
- Polysomnography (PSG): Polysomnography, also called an overnight sleep study, is a comprehensive test used to diagnose certain sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. Polysomnography is performed under the direct supervision of a trained sleep technologist and records your brain waves, the oxygen level in your blood, heart rate, and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements during the study. While it is typically performed at night, polysomnography is occasionally done during the day to accommodate shift workers who habitually sleep during the day.
- Home Sleep Test (HST): HST can sometimes be performed instead of an overnight sleep study in the sleep lab to look for obstructive sleep apnea. This is a modified type of sleep study that can be done in the comfort of home. It records fewer body functions than PSG, including airflow, breathing effort, blood oxygen levels, and snoring.
- An HST is not appropriate to be used as a screening tool for patients without symptoms. It is not used for patients with significant medical problems (such as heart failure, moderate to severe cardiac disease, neuromuscular disease, or moderate to severe pulmonary disease). It is also not used for patients who have suspicion for sleep disorders other than obstructive sleep apnea.
- Titration Polysomnography: During a titration sleep study, the same sensors are used as in polysomnography. In addition, a positive pressure device (such as a continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP) is in place to treat sleep apnea or other breathing problems during sleep. The sleep technologist can then monitor the sleep-related breathing and adjust the positive airway pressure (PAP) device to treat the sleep-related breathing problem.
- Multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT): Commonly called a "nap study," this test helps determine the severity of excessive sleepiness and measures how quickly people fall asleep. This test is performed primarily during the day following your overnight sleep study and consists of carefully timed nap periods.
Treatment
Most sleep disorders can be treated or managed effectively once they are accurately diagnosed. Diagnosis and treatment recommendations for sleep disorders are based on the findings of the consultation. Further evaluation with sleep testing may also be recommended.