Types of Sleep Studies
In some cases, behavioral changes like improving sleep hygiene or cognitive behavioral therapy are successful for restoring healthy sleep. But sometimes, more data is needed.
If you’re a candidate for a sleep study, you may be wondering what is involved in this test and what to expect. Sleep studies help our Ogden sleep experts diagnose sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, and more. Often these disorders cannot be identified with a normal office visit, so a sleep specialist needs to gather more conclusive evidence while you’re asleep.
Polysomnography sleep testing
Polysomnography sleep testing is an overnight study performed at one of our three Utah sleep labs. Polysomnography can help diagnose conditions like:
Sleep Disordered Breathing (Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Central Sleep Apnea, and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome)
Narcolepsy
Parasomnias
Sleep-related seizure disorders
Periodic limb movements of sleep
Dr. Chris Hammond will carefully interpret your study, review the results in detail, and will discuss treatment options if indicated. During this visit, you will be able to see your biometric data such as brain waves, breathing, airflow, oxygen levels, sleeping position, body movements, and snoring.
What to Expect | Polysomnography
Before Your Polysomnography (In-office Sleep Study)
A sleep study is done in a room that is made to be comfortable and dark for sleeping. You’ll be asked to arrive roughly two hours before bedtime with freshly washed hair and no lotions/products on your skin. You can bring personal items related to sleep and you may sleep in your own pajamas. You may continue using any prescribed medication as usual (including sleep aids) unless Dr. Hammond advises otherwise. If you are feeling ill prior to your study, please call our office to reschedule.
During Your Polysomnography
Before you go to bed in the exam room, a technologist will place sensors, or electrodes, on your head and body, but you will still have plenty of room to move and get comfortable.
Polysomnographic technologists monitor you during the night and can help you if you need to use the bathroom, for example. Many people wonder how they’ll be able to sleep under these conditions. Don’t worry about this too much: A full night of sleep is not required to gather useful information from your sleep study. The data from your sleep study will usually be taken by a technologist, and later evaluated by Dr. Chris Hammond.
Home Sleep Apnea Testing
Home Sleep Apnea Testing is a portable device worn at home during sleep to assess for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). A device-orientation appointment is typically scheduled where you will be shown how to properly wear the device at bedtime. Testing occurs for one or two consecutive nights then is returned the next day for analysis.
Dr. Chris Hammond will interpret your study, review the results in detail, and will discuss treatment options if indicated. You’ll be able to review your biometric data such as airflow, oxygen levels, sleeping position, and snoring.
Nocturnal pulse oximetry is a non-invasive test used to measure oxygen saturation during sleep. A clip-on probe is placed on a finger and light is used to measure blood oxygen levels. For our purposes, oximetry may be used to confirm that oxygen levels have normalized with a treatment such as CPAP or oral appliance.
What to Expect | Oximetry Test
(At-home Wrist Band/Finger Monitoring)
If you’ve been ordered an oximetry test, this is a fairly simple at-home study. At bedtime, place the monitoring probe on the index, middle or ring finger of your non-dominant hand. Dark nail polish should be removed prior to use. The probe can be secured with the provided Co-Ban strip inside the case. Wrap the cable around your finger, not the probe itself since it could cause discomfort. The oximeter will turn on automatically once attached and you’ll see two numbers on the screen: Your oxygen level and your heart rate. Fall asleep as usual.
When you wake up in the morning, take the probe off your finger and return to bag. The oximeter will automatically shut off. Your data will be recorded and we will be in touch with further information.
