A sleep study may be a test that your doctor requests you undergo to determine any problems that you may have while you are asleep. These tests are painless. There are three primary sleep study tests done at sleep centers including the polysomnogram (PSG), the maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT), and the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT).

A sleep study will typically take place in a room that is similar to a hotel room. You’ll interact with the center’s nurses or technicians. The nurse’s and technician’s goal is to make the room comfortable for you. This includes setting the room temperature to your preference. Typically, they will be the ones to monitor and run the sleep study but they won’t be able to discuss your results with you. You will be able to discuss your results with your doctor after they’ve had a chance to review the data collected during the sleep study.

Polysomnogram Sleep Study

For a polysomnogram sleep study, the nurse or technician will apply sticky patches with electrode sensors on your face, chest, scalp, limbs, and finger. The wires are thin and very flexible so that they won’t restrict your movement while you sleep. These sensors will record the various things such as brain activity, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, eye movement, and oxygen levels. In addition to the sensors you will have elastic belts placed around your chest and stomach to measure your breathing movements including strength and duration of each breath. All of these sensors will record and send the information to the computer set up in the next room.

If you are having the sleep study done due to signs that you may have sleep apnea, then they may perform a split-night sleep study. This means that for the first half of the night, information will be recorded from the sensors. At the start of the second half of the night you will be woken up and a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask will be fitted on your nose or mouth (or both). This machine creates a mild pressure by gently bowing air through the mask to help keep your airways open. The second half of the sleep study will be evaluating how well you sleep with the CPAP machine and finding the setting that would work best for you.

Multiple Sleep Latency Sleep Study

This is a daytime sleep study and typically follows a PSG. The MSLT uses sensors placed on your face, chin, and scalp to record brain and eye activity. The purpose of this sleep study is to show the various stages of sleep along with the length of time it takes you to fall asleep. After you’ve completed the PSG sleep study you will be asked to try to relax and fall asleep in a dark, quiet room. This will be done up to five times throughout the day to test your ability to fall asleep at various times. You’ll have a 2-hour break between each test during which you are required to stay awake. This sleep study records your type and stages of sleep including rapid eye movement, or REM sleep and non-REM sleep, which has three stages. Your body typically cycles through these sleep stages throughout the night. This sleep study is primarily done to help diagnose sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and other issues that may cause daytime drowsiness.

Maintenance of Wakefulness Sleep Study

The MWT is also commonly done the day after your PSG. The sensors will be placed on your scalp, face, and chin and are used to measure when you’re awake or asleep. The technician or nurse will have you sit quietly in a comfortable position and try to stay awake for a specific period of time. These sleep study rounds last around 40 minutes each. If you do happen to fall asleep, the technician or nurse will wake you after about 90 seconds. This test also requires 2 hour breaks between each round. During these breaks you need to be awake but you can participate in activities such as reading or watching television. This type of sleep study is common if you have a transportation or safety-related type of job and usually accompanies a drug test.

After your sleep study has been completed, your results will be evaluated. You will then be able to discuss the results with your doctor and create a treatment plan that will best meet your needs. Based upon your results your doctor may request that you follow up with an additional sleep study or participate in a home based sleep study for further information and evaluation in diagnosing your condition.

If you have any questions about your first sleep study or about the results, please contact Mark Levy DDS.