Sleep Studies

Description

Have you been experiencing prolonged poor sleep or excessive daytime sleepiness? Are you concerned that you might have a sleep disorder? Portland District Health may be able to assist you with a Sleep Study. All Sleep Studies must be referred by your Doctor / GP. All Sleep Studies are covered under Medicare.

 

What disorders can be diagnosed with a sleep study?

Overnight sleep studies can be used to help diagnose sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnoea, periodic limb movement disorder, sleep-related seizure disorders or certain types of epilepsy, sleep disorders that cause extreme daytime tiredness such as narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnolence, sleep-related movement disorders or parasomnias (such as sleepwalking, sleep-related eating disorder and sleep paralysis). It can also assist with the diagnosis of chronic insomnia.

 

How else are sleep disorders diagnosed?

Your history of symptoms, risk factors and other health conditions, along with questionnaires and a physical examination, including measuring blood pressure, can often identify if you are likely to have a specific sleep disorder and whether further investigations may be needed.

It is important to recognise that a sleep study is a test, not a medical opinion, and that a final diagnosis and management plan needs to be worked out between you and your doctor, using the results of the sleep study as well as your history and personal circumstances. Sometimes other tests, such as blood tests, can help decide on management.

 

How do I book a sleep study?

A sleep study is performed here onsite at PDH, where you will stay the night for the test to be performed.

We are able to do the test 4 nights a week. You will arrive after your dinner at approx 7.30pm and the test finishes at approx 6am where you will then leave. The results will be sent to your Doctor / GP, who will discuss the results with you.

If the results show you may need a CPAP machine, then your Doctor / GP may be referred for another test and another night spent with us.

 

What happens during a sleep study?

Sleep studies involve multiple types of sensors, each tracking a specific body system or process, in order to get an in-depth assessment of sleep.

These include sensors that detect:

  • brain wave activity (electroencephalography or EEG) that accurately measures your actual sleep using leads on your scalp;
  • eye movements(electrooculography or EOG)which helps differentiate different stages of sleep, using leads on the side of your eyes;
  • your heart’s electrical activity (electrocardiography or ECG);
  • muscle activity (electromyography or EMG) with leads attached to the skin on your jaw and also your legs, to look at muscle tone in your tongue and upper airway muscles and to detect leg movements;
  • airflow from your breathing through your nose or mouth;
  • movement of the breathing-related muscles in your chest and abdomen (Respiratory inductive plethysmography belt);
  • pulse and oxygen levels (pulse oximeter);
  • body position, using a small device taped to your chest;
  • noise (measures sound in decibels, such as from snoring)

For more information about Sleep Studies, please go to Sleep Study | Sleep Health Foundation

What is a CPAP Machine?

A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine is a device used to treat sleep apnoea, delivering a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask worn over the nose and/or mouth to keep airways open during sleep. Portland District Health can assist you in the purchase of the right machine for you. 

 

Once you have your referral, please contact us on:

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