Guthrie’s Sleep Disorders Center

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I discuss sleep concerns with my doctor?
Discuss sleep-related concerns with your doctor if you, your bed partner or your family members state you snore loudly or stop breathing while sleeping, or notice changes in your personality, moods, attention span, thought processes such as concentration or memory, or a worsening of existing conditions such as depression, ADD, etc.

How can my doctor help me?
Your physician will examine you and ask a variety of questions to determine if a sleep disturbance is potentially responsible for how you’re feeling. He or she may recommend an appointment with a neurologist specializing in sleep disorders.

What tests might be ordered to evaluate me for sleep disorders?
Possible tests include:

CPAP Titration – study to evaluate effectiveness of CPAP therapy, and adjust pressures as needed.
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) -- a test to assess daytime function in order to answer clinical questions about treatment
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) -- a test used to evaluate narcolepsy and related disorders
Overnight Sleep Study (nocturnal polysomnography) -- a test in which a patient's brainwaves, breathing, cardiac responses and motion are continuously monitored electronically and by video
Split Night Study – begin with regular overnight sleep study and end the night using CPAP machine

If I need to have an overnight sleep study, what do I bring?
You should bring pajamas, toiletries and any medicines you typically take at bedtime or upon waking, as well as anything that will help you feel at home – a favorite pillow or blanket, for example. Please also bring your insurance information.

What are the different types of sleep disorders?
For more information about the varieties of sleep disorders, click here.

Should I take any regular prescription medication prior to my overnight sleep study?
Please take all your medicines at the usual time.

Is there anything I shouldn’t do prior to my sleep study?
Avoid alcohol 24 hours prior to your test, avoid caffeine after 12 noon on the day of your test and avoid naps the day of your test.

What happens during a sleep study?
A sleep study is an overnight observation in a monitored sleep environment. You will be asked to come in to the Sleep Center after dinner time. Monitoring devices will be connected to your head, and then you will be asked to relax, read or watch television. You’ll be asked to go to sleep by 11 PM. Your brainwaves, breathing, cardiac responses and motion will be continuously monitored electronically and by video. You will be awakened at approximately 6 AM. All electrodes and sensors will be removed, and you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire. You will be free to leave by approximately 6:45 AM -- you can shower and go home or go to work. For MSLT testing, breakfast and lunch are provided.

What is the overnight sleep study room like?
The sleep study bedrooms are similar to hotel rooms, with the exception of the video camera and medical monitoring equipment.

How is my sleep study evaluated?
The informational printout following a full night of sleep is scored by a polysomnographic technician, who checks for periodic wakings, lapses in breathing and changes in brainwaves or heart rhythms. Following the sleep study, your results are evaluated and a treatment is recommended by a physician who specializes in sleep disorders.

Will I have to have a secondary sleep study?
If you are prescribed a sleep appliance such as a CPAP or a Bi-PAP, you may need to return for a follow-up sleep study and wear the appliance to test the improvement in your sleep. You will begin the study without the appliance, and will be awakened and asked to put on the appliance and go back to sleep.