Sleep Diagnostics

Sleep apnea affects people of all ages, but is most commonly found in patients suffering from other related disorders such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart conditions. Other symptoms that may include excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, history of snoring, choking and gasping for air while sleeping. If you feel that you are suffering from any of these sleep apnea symptoms, you should contact your doctor. Apnix also offers an online sleep apnea test to help you identify symptoms you may be experiencing.

First Step On The Road To Recovery

If you or your doctor suspect that you may have a sleep-related breathing disorder, you will be given a prescription for a sleep test. Sleep tests are covered by most major medical insurance plans and our team of insurance specialists will secure the appropriate test authorizations and coverage from your insurance carrier. One of our friendly customer service representatives will then call you to schedule your overnight stay at one of our conveniently located sleep testing facilities.

Preparing For The Sleep Study

A sleep study is a test performed overnight to help your physician determine if a sleep disorder is present or not. We offer testing services seven nights a week. You will be given a questionnaire to be completed and returned the night of the sleep study. When you check in at the sleep center for your test, the night technician will review the questionnaire and procedures with you. Only 1 to2% of our patients have trouble falling asleep at the center. In the morning, the technician will wake you and you may resume your normal daytime activities.

Types Of Sleep Tests Conducted By Apnix

Diagnosing sleeping disorders is a complex process. A patient’s mental and physical health and medical history are all taken into consideration. There are no injections or medicines administered. Your sleep patterns are observed in a totally non-invasive manner. Our sleep tests include studying a patient’s sleep staging through electroencephalography (EEG), electro-oculography (EOG), submental-electromyography (EMG) and electrocardiography (ECG). We also study additional parameters of sleep by oximetry - airflow, respiratory effort, and oxygen saturation.

• Polysomnography: During this test, we record the activity of the brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, air flow, blood oxygen levels, and so on. This test helps determine if a person is suffering from sleep apnea and the severity of the problem.
• The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): During this test Apnix measures the speed of falling asleep. In this test, time to fall asleep is measured under different circumstances. This test helps measure the degree of daytime sleepiness, as well as assisting in the diagnosis of narcolepsy or REM stage disorders.
• Diagnostic: A comprehensive study that charts brain waves, heart beat, breathing, eye and leg movements, muscle tension and more.
• CPAP Titration Study: CPAP therapy is attempted during study including pressure adjustments to find appropriate settings and equipment for home use.
• Bi-Level Titration Study: This is similar to CPAP study except two pressures (inhalation and exhalation) are adjusted to seek optimal home usage settings.
• AutoSV Titration Study: Another form of treatment study for severe sleep-related breathing disorders needing respiratory assistance devices (RADs).
• MWT: This study is used to measure a patient’s alertness during the day and determines if the patient is able to stay awake during periods of inactivity.

Sleep Test Report And The Next Step

The results of the sleep study are scored by a registered technician within a few days of the study. The scored report is then sent to a qualified physician to be interpreted. Within 7-10 days after the study, your referring physician will receive the results. You will be contacted by your physician or by Apnix regarding recommended next steps.

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