In some cases, either your physician or insurance carrier will recommend a sleep test while you sleep at home. In some instances, this sleep test will be sufficient to make a diagnosis, while in other situations, additional sleep tests may be needed to treat your sleep problems.

What is a Home Sleep Test (HST)?

A Home Sleep Test (HST) is a sleep study for the purpose of diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. In most cases a patient is provided with a small portable device for the use in their own home, for one to two nights. This sleep test is considered un-attended, which means its application direction is provided by easy to follow directions, but no one will be there monitoring the test. sleep tests where a patient is provided portable sleep testing equipment with easy to follow instructions for its use.

What do we hope to achieve from the test?

From the test, the goal is to obtain sufficient data collection to diagnose or rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Because of the studies limited field of view, typically, a physician will recommend a Home Sleep Test only if it is believed that the individual has a very likely chance that they have moderate to severe sleep apnea.

This is because HST’s don’t always detect mild breathing disorders. If a patient has low to moderate sleep apnea, the test may falsely conclude that the patient doesn’t have sleep apnea or that the individual’s sleep apnea is not as prevalent as it really is.

HSTs are not recommended for patients who may have more than one sleep disorder, or who have certain medical conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure or neuromuscular disease.

What to expect?

The testing equipment consists of a small recording device, which is about the size of today’s smart phones. Along with the recording device there are multiple sensors which are specifically designed to monitor oxygen levels (SaO2) and pulse, respiratory effort, body position and snoring, in the convenience of one’s home.

Upon pick up, the patient receives personalized instruction from a staff member, where questions related to the testing process are answered, and guidance on the testing process provided. Once complete, the patient will be instructed to use the devise for 1 to 2 nights depending on the request form their referring provider. Upon completion of the testing process the patient is instructed to return the device to the office returned to the sleep center for review by the sleep physician, and a summary of findings report is generated.

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What is a Polysomnography test?

A Polysomnography is an overnight sleep study to diagnose sleep disorders.

A facility-based Polysomnography is considered the standard of care for the diagnosis and/or confirmation of sleep disorders.

What do we hope to achieve with the test?

A Polysomnography is a test used to diagnose sleep disorders by monitoring and recording a number of variables during the study. In addition, polysomnography may be used to help adjust your treatment plan if you have already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

What to expect?

A Polysomnography is a non-invasive procedure where a number of physiologic variables related to sleep and wakefulness are measured and recorded. It consists of recordings of the following:

• brain waves
• eye movements
• chest and abdomen breathing effort
• snoring
• blood oxygen levels
• chin and cheek muscle tension
• body position

This study takes place at one of our facilities and is monitored closely by a certified sleep technologist during the night. The sleep test will typically last 6 hours and will end no later than 7 am unless additional tests, such as a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), have been ordered.

What is a CPAP Titration test?

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is typically used to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea by using mild air pressure to keep your breathing airways open.

Titration is the volumetric analysis or process of determining the amount of airflow needed by slowly adding and/or subtracting it in measured amounts until the ideal airflow is achieved for the individual.

What do we hope to achieve from the test?

If your physician ordered a CPAP Titration test for you, we are hoping to determine your optimal positive airway pressure (PAP) settings. These settings can eliminate most or all apnea events.

What to expect?

This simple overnight test begins by choosing the right CPAP mask to suit your needs.

During the test, the sleep technologists will administer Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) to determine the appropriate therapy settings to adequately keep the airway open while sleeping and resolve the sleep apnea.

In the same way as the in-lab sleep study, the sleep technologist will apply sensors to your body to monitor the same physiological parameters, only this time when you show up for your sleep study you will receive CPAP education and fitted with an appropriate interface device (mask). After the appropriate fitting and sleep study set up, you will be connected to a therapy device machine. The wires are long enough to let you move around and turn over in bed.

At certain intervals throughout the night, the technologist will remotely change the air pressure you receive through your mask. Pressure starts at a very low level and gradually increases. The technologist may come into the bedroom to adjust or replace the CPAP mask for optimal results.

What is a Bi-PAP Titration test?

Bi-PAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure. Similar to CPAP, it is typically used to treat sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea by using mild air pressure to keep your breathing airways open. Because BiPAP machines have two pressure settings, we are able to control the airflow pressure for inhalation (ipap), as well as for exhalation (epap). The idea is that the dual settings can help the individual get more air in and out of their lungs.

Titration is the volumetric analysis or process of determining the amount of airflow needed by slowly adding and/or subtracting it in measured amounts until the ideal airflow is achieved for the individual.

What do we hope to achieve from the test?

If your physician ordered a BiPAP Titration test for you, we are hoping to determine your optimal positive airway pressure (PAP) settings. These settings can eliminate most or all apnea events.

What to expect?

This simple overnight test begins by choosing the right BiPAP mask to suit your needs.

In the same way as the in-lab sleep study, the sleep technologist will apply sensors to your body to monitor the same physiological parameters. In addition, you will receive BiPAP education.

After you are comfortable with your BiPAP mask and are ready to rest, you will be connected to a therapy device machine. The wires are long enough to let you move around and turn over in bed.

During the test, the sleep technologists will remotely administer Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) to determine the appropriate therapy settings to adequately keep the airway open while sleeping and resolve the sleep apnea. Typically, pressure will start at a very low level and gradually increase.

The technologist may come into the bedroom to adjust or replace the CPAP mask for optimal results.

What is an Adaptive Servo Ventilation (ASV) test?

Adaptive Servo Ventilation (ASV) - is a medical technology that utilizes positive airway pressure ventilatory support that is adjusted based on the detection of apneas, or pauses in breathing, during sleep. It is primarily used in the treatment of Central Sleep Apnea.

It is also used for complex sleep apnea, mixed sleep apnea, periodic breathing - Cheyne - Stokes respirations. The device resembles CPAP machines (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and uses the same masks, hoses, and attachments.

While CPAP provides one continuous pressure, and BiPAP provides two pressures (on inhale and exhale), ASV adjusts the pressure based on an algorithm.

What do we hope to achieve from the test?

If your physician ordered a ASV test for you, we are hoping to determine the ideal algorithm to stabilize your breathing while sleeping. This is achieved when air pressure is increased when the individual is experiencing hypopnea and apnea and reduced during periods of hyperventilation and normal breathing. These settings can eliminate most or all apnea events.

What to expect?

Even though the machine has an algorithm that detects breathing patterns, the machine still needs to be calibrated to the individual’s breathing needs. This includes finding the individual’s minimum and maximum pressure support settings that the algorithm will fluctuate between to find the perfect amount of oxygen support.

The sleep technologist will apply sensors to your body to monitor the same physiological parameters, only this time when you show up for your sleep study you will receive ASV education and be fitted with an appropriate interface device (mask).

After you are comfortable with your mask and are ready to rest, you will be connected to a therapy device machine. The wires are long enough to let you move around and turn over in bed.

DThe technologist may come into the bedroom to adjust or replace your mask for optimal results.

What is an Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) is a test for excessive daytime sleepiness by measuring how quickly you fall asleep in a quiet environment during the day.

What do we hope to achieve from the test?

The MSLT is the standard tool used to diagnose narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

What to expect?

A full-day test that consists of five scheduled naps separated by two-hour breaks. You will lie quietly in bed and try to go to sleep. Once the lights go off, the test will measure how long it takes for you to fall asleep. You will be awakened after sleeping 15 minutes. If you do not fall asleep within 20 minutes, the nap trial will end.

Each nap will be taken in a dark and quiet sleep environment that is intended for your comfort and to isolate any external factors that may affect your ability to fall asleep. A series of sensors will measure whether you are asleep. The sensors also determine your sleep stage.