Sleep Center | Sleep Disorders | Self-Quiz

Sleep Center

Need a Good Night’s Sleep?

Some people realize they have a sleep disorder because they remember waking up at night. Others can have a sleep disturbance but not be aware of it. Not all sleep disorders awaken people, or awaken them enough for the disturbance to be remembered.

Some people may feel tired much of the time, and may doze off easily during the day. They may even think their daytime sleepiness is normal, that everyone feels that way despite the concerns of friends, family and co-workers.

ENT Medical Services Sleep Center can play an important role in detecting, evaluating and treating a wide range of sleep abnormalities and sleep-related disorders.

What is a sleep center?
A sleep medicine center is a medical facility designed to evaluate people with sleep disturbances of sleep-related problems. The center is under the medical direction of a physician specializing in sleep medicine and is staffed by technical specialists trained to study and evaluate people during periods of sleep. A physician uses these studies to diagnose the nature of sleep problems.

Did you know? Your daytime performance is directly affected by the quality of your sleep.

Why go to a sleep medicine center?
Until recently, many sleep disorders were thought to be not treatable or related to age. With the establishment of sleep medicine centers and the recent interest in the study of sleep, we now know that many disorders can be diagnosed and successfully treated. You no longer have to “just live with your problem.”

What is involved in the evaluation process?
The evaluation begins when you complete a sleep questionnaire and possibly a sleep diary. The information is then reviewed by a physician knowledgeable about sleep disorders. The physician will interview you (and your bed partner, if possible) and perform a brief physical examination. At this point, the physician may have enough information to make a tentative diagnosis and to initiate treatment. The causes of some types of problems may not be clear after the interview or may need more detailed observation during sleep. In this case, you may be scheduled for a polysomnogram “all night sleep test” or other laboratory tests. You may also need to see other medical specialists. After all tests are completed, the physician will discuss the results with you and recommend an appropriate treatment regimen.

What is a polysomnogram?
A polysomnogram is a comprehensive, all night testing procedure. Electrodes and sensors are attached to the patient’s head, chest, abdomen and legs to continuously record brain activities, various types of muscle activity, eye movements, breathing, and oxygen saturation.

Is there much pain involved?
There should be no pain associated with the test. None of the electrodes or sensors go into or through the skin. All are attached to the surface of the skin or scalp. No hair is cut, no skin is broken, and no electricity enters the body. With the exception of feeling the attached sensors (much the same as you notice the clothing you’re wearing), no unpleasant sensation will be experienced during the polysomnogram.

Did you know? You spend one-third of your life sleeping.

Will my nightly bedtime routine be altered?
Everything possible will be done to insure that your stay is pleasant. We will try to reproduce your usual sleep routine in our laboratory. In most cases, however, it is not necessary to exactly duplicate your sleep at home, and in some cases your normal routine might be disruptive to the testing procedure. Staff will monitor you throughout the testing procedure and will be immediately available to assist you with your needs.

What if I don’t have a doctor to refer me to a sleep disorder center?
Although many of our patients are referred by physicians, we do accept patients who come to us directly with problems. If you do not have a doctor, one of our sleep specialists will evaluate you.

Did you know? You could have a sleep disorder and not be aware of it.

Insurance
You will be billed by ENT Medical Services Sleep Center for your sleep study (polysomnogram). Other services, such as physician visits will be billed separately.