Sleep Studies
A sleep study is the diagnostic tool used to further evaluate a patient’s sleep complaint. Though not all sleep disorders require sleep testing, sleep studies are important to document abnormalities that may occur during sleep, including problems with breathing, with movements (leg kicking, acting out dreams, sleepwalking, etc.).
A study performed in a laboratory environment is considered to be the “gold standard” for evaluating sleep disorders.
Portable, or home studies can be used in appropriate patients to obtain information, primarily related to breathing disorders in sleep (i.e. obstructive sleep apnea).
The multiple sleep latency test is a laboratory tool used to quantitate sleepiness and consists of a series of nap opportunities to document a patients’ ability to fall asleep when given an opportunity to do so.
The maintenance of wakefulness test is a laboratory tool that is used to document a patients’ ability to stay awake in a quiet and semi-dark environment. |
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