Diagnostic Sleep Study or Base Line Study

The overnight sleep study is used to evaluate patients when they are sleeping. Through this laboratory test, many sleep disorders can be diagnosed and treated, including movement disorders, neurologic disorders, and breathing disorders during the night. Sleep studies (also called polysomnography) are partially covered by most of the Insurance Plans.

Patients come to the laboratory at 8:00 p.m. on the appointed day. There, they meet with a sleep technologist who will explain and perform the study. They are led to their assigned room where they should complete questionnaires and prepare for sleep (wash face, brush teeth, change into sleep clothes, etc.).

The patient’s quality of sleep will be studied. Electrodes are attached to various body parts specifically the scalp, both sides of the head and under the leg, chest, and chin. The placement of these electrodes enables us to measure eye movements, heart rate, and brain waves. Belts are also worn around the patient’s rib cage and the abdomen to help us measure their breathing movements. To measure airflow, we put a sensor by the nose and mouth. Blood oxygen levels are also measured by placing a clip on a finger. Other measurements may be done as required. There are no needles and no pain. These electrodes are all connected to a box located at the bedside which relays signals to our control room. All patients are also videotaped while sleeping.

Inside the control room, the patient’s sleep and overall condition are monitored closely by one of our technologists. We will easily and quickly deal with any problems arising from the study. Our technologist will respond to calls from the patients after flicking a switch located next to their bed. Patients generally get out from the study around 5:00 to 6:00 in the morning. For earlier wake-ups, we advise patients to let our technologist know.

Once the sleep study is completed, it is scored by a registered technologist and sent to a sleep physician for interpretation. The report is then sent to the physician who ordered the sleep study and appropriate follow-up is arranged. The entire process takes only 1-2 weeks or less.

In general, sleep studies are tolerable and comfortable for all patients. They also enable our sleep physicians to gather all information necessary to diagnose and treat their sleep disorders accurately.