Sleep studies
Gain insight into your sleep health so you can take steps to get better rest. Ask your doctor for a referral for a sleep study at Community Hospital’s Sleep Disorders Center at Ryan Ranch. This test can show signs of sleep apnea (trouble breathing), restless legs, and other conditions in people age 4 and older.
Accredited care
Expect clear results from your sleep study (polysomnogram) because the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has accredited our Sleep Disorders Center for testing at the center or your home. That means you can trust we have the right staff, equipment, facilities, procedures, and safety measures to deliver high-quality care.
Nighttime study at the sleep center
Your study will most likely take place overnight in a private, comfortable room at the Sleep Disorders Center (sleep lab). A registered, licensed technologist will put sensors on your scalp and body to measure the following as you sleep:
- Brain waves
- Breathing
- Chin muscle activity
- Heart rate
- Leg movements
- Oxygen levels
A video camera will also record your movements. Ask your technologist any questions you have about the process so you feel comfortable and informed.
Split-night study and positive airway pressure
If you show clear signs of sleep apnea during the study, the technologist may wake you and give you a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask to wear. This device gently blows air to help keep your airway open the rest of the night. The technologist will adjust the pressure (perform CPAP titration) as you sleep to find the setting that lets you breathe steadily. When this happens during your polysomnogram, it’s called a split-night study.
If your sleep doctor diagnoses sleep apnea after the study, you may need to come back for CPAP titration.
After finding the right level of positive airway pressure, you can start using CPAP therapy at home to sleep better.
Home sleep apnea test
If your insurance plan doesn’t cover a test at our sleep lab, you may take a convenient home sleep study to check for sleep apnea. We’ll teach you how to place sensors on your body and attach them to a recorder that you take home. The device tracks your breathing and movements as you sleep in the comfort of your own bed.
Daytime nap study
Your doctor may recommend a daytime nap study at the sleep lab if you have symptoms of narcolepsy (suddenly falling asleep during the day). Also called a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), this daylong study includes five scheduled naps, each two hours apart. A technologist will measure how long it takes you to fall asleep each naptime.
Maintenance of wakefulness test
A maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) shows how well you can stay alert during daytime quiet periods. At four separate times, you’ll sit comfortably in a bed at the sleep lab with your back against a pillow. A technologist will record whether you fall asleep and measure how long it takes.
Results of your sleep study
Your sleep study may create up to 1,000 pages of data that a sleep specialist will review over a couple of weeks. The doctor will make a detailed report and schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss the results with you.
If you receive a diagnosis of sleep apnea, the doctor will likely recommend CPAP therapy. Learn more about this treatment and other ways to relieve sleep apnea.
