Sleep Testing or Polysomnography involves monitoring of brain waves, eye movements and chin muscles to determine presence and type of sleep. Brain waves are also monitored to look for possible seizures. Heart monitoring for irregular heart beats and monitoring of breathing for altered breathing in sleep also occurs. Monitoring of breathing effort gives the reason for altered breathing. Leg muscle activity shows arousals and abnormal movements in sleep. Monitoring of blood oxygen with a light-emitting probe on the finger shows the effect of altered breathing on blood oxygen levels. The testing occurs in a sleep disorders center in a private room in the office designed to look like a hotel room. A technologist is present all night in a monitoring room to monitor you, using video and audio monitors and the neurophysiological equipment. Patients often ask how they will sleep in such circumstances. Yet most patients sleep about the same as they do in a hotel room. If patients need to get out of bed for any reason, they can call the technologist, who disconnects a single cable from the patient to the monitoring room, and removes the blood oxygen probe from the finger. Patients can now get up and move around.

Testing for daytime sleepiness is by monitoring how quickly you fall asleep during multiple tests during the day. Sleepy people fall asleep too quickly and have difficulty staying awake.

Society has long recognized the existence of sleep disorders; however, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment have become possible only in recent decades. The discovery of neurophysiological techniques to study sleep and sleepiness made this a reality.

Sleep Medicine is now a well established field, with Board Certification by the Boards of Psychiatry, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Otolaryngology. Sleep Medicine has  its own section in the neurophysiological procedure codes. Most insurances cover most of the testing fees. However, the medical reimbursement area changes rapidly, and each third party payer may have its own rules and policies.

Your assurance of quality is accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep Disorders Institute is accredited.

Please bring your medicines and food with you. Testing is an outpatient procedure, in the office. Hospital admission does not occur. We do not provide medicines or nursing and dietary services.

Please eat a regular meal before you come, half-an-hour to four hours before testing.

Maintain a regular schedule in the two weeks before testing. Get 6-8 hours of sleep each day.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the four hours before testing and during testing.

Please shampoo your hair and wash your face before arrival, and avoid hair spray and make-up following that. This improves the recording quality.

Bring hearing aids or eyeglasses, if you use them.

If your scheduled testing is a re-testing after treatment, please follow your usual treatment schedule, and bring any CPAP mask and headgear.

Please wear comfortable loose clothes to your appointment. If you are staying overnight, please bring pajamas or a sweat suit. Nightgowns can be a problem in applying chest monitors. You may not go to bed wearing only underwear or shorts.

Bring toiletries and a change of clothes if you wish. A rest-room is available. There is no shower.

The technologist will apply electrodes to the skin of your scalp and other parts of the body, without breaking the skin. This is painless. The technologist may be male or female.

Bring a chaperone with you if you need any special assistance, such as a wheelchair, help with walking, or special medical care. Your chaperone may sleep in a chair-bed in your room. If you are under 18, we recommend a parent or guardian stay with you in the room.

The testing facility is non-smoking by law. The entire Beaumont Hospital campus is non-smoking. Therefore, you will not be able to smoke during the time you are with us for testing.

You may use only grounded (three-pronged) personal electrical devices in your bedroom. Ungrounded (two-pronged) devices may not be used.

Bring your own breakfast and lunch, and reading materials or a video for your enjoyment if you are undergoing daytime testing. Do not bring any caffeinated beverages. A refrigerator and microwave are available for your convenience.