Sleep Studies
In a sleep study, sensors are used to monitor how your body acts while you sleep. Charts are made of many physical measurements including your brain waves, heartbeats and breathing. Your sleep study provides doctors with the data that can help them find the cause of your sleep problem.
Some of the common tests that physicians and sleep specialists use to diagnose sleep disorders are:
Epworth Sleepiness Scale – This sleep questionnaire asks you to rank whether certain situations make you sleepy and, if so, how sleepy. Your responses assist your doctor in providing a formal diagnosis.
Nocturnal polysomnogram – This test measures the electrical activity of your brain (electroencephalogram) and heart (electrocardiogram), and the movement of your muscles (electromyogram) and eyes (electro-oculogram), and usually requires an overnight stay at a sleep clinic for observation purposes.
Daytime Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) – This test measures how long it takes for you to fall asleep during the day, plus the kind of sleep you get during such a nap. Sleep specialists analyze your brain waves (EEG), heart rate (EKG), muscle activity, and eye movements.
Repeated test of sustained wakefulness (RTSW) – This test measures how long it takes for you to fall asleep in a situation that challenges you to stay awake. During the test, you are placed in a quiet room with dim lighting, told to close your eyes, and asked to stay awake.
Blood test – Depending upon the description of your symptoms and your personal and family medical histories, your sleep specialist may also conduct a blood test. The blood test may not be conclusive but can be helpful in establishing the possibility and probability of certain sleep disorders.
