What is a sleep study?
For most patients, a sleep study is a key diagnostic component of a sleep disorder evaluation. A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram (PSG), measures brain wave activity, eye movements, muscle contractions, heart activity, breathing and blood oxygenation during sleep. The information we collect during your child’s study is reviewed and analyzed by our sleep specialists.
A Sleep Study is a non-invasive test that monitors what happens as we sleep. Patients are asked to arrive at the sleep center at about 8pm and to bring any medications with them that they may need that night and the next morning. Avoid caffeine and alcohol within 6 hours of arrival. Wear something warm to sleep in, as the room is ordinarily kept cool to avoid sweating, which can interfere with the performance of the sleep study. The room is designed to look like a bedroom. The bed is comfortable and privacy is maintained. Electrodes are placed on the scalp to monitor brain wave activity in order to determine when the patient goes to sleep and what level of sleep he or she is in. Pressure sensors are placed on the chest and abdomen to determine when the patient is making attempts to breathe. A flow sensor is placed under the nose to see if the airway is open or blocked during breathing. A pulse oximeter is placed on the finger to measure oxygen levels noninvasively. There is a microphon
