The overnight sleep study is used to evaluate patients when they are sleeping. This test is used for diagnosing and treating many sleep disorders including breathing, movement and neurological disorders during sleep.
Patients come to NTSC at the appointed time and day and meet with a sleep technologist, who will explain and perform the study. They are escorted to their room where they are prepared for the sleep study which includes a questionnaire and getting ready to sleep.
For the study electrodes are applied to different parts of the body. The electrodes measure brain waves, heart rate and eye movements. A sensor to measure airflow is placed near the nose and mouth. The electrodes are connected to a box by the bedside for relaying the signals to a control room. All patients are videotaped while asleep.
In the control room, the technologist monitors the patient’s sleep and general condition. Patients are monitored at all times and in case of any problem they can easily call the technologist.
Sleep studies are generally easy to tolerate, comfortable for patients and give the sleep physician the information required to accurately diagnose and treat the sleep disorder.
