Accurate diagnosis and effective management of sleep disorders often require specialized testing to evaluate sleep patterns and identify underlying issues. At our clinics, we offer a range of advanced sleep tests and procedures designed to provide comprehensive insights into your sleep health.
- Polysomnography (In-laboratory sleep study):
This is a comprehensive overnight test conducted in a sleep laboratory that monitors various physiological parameters during sleep. Polysomnography records brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, and breathing patterns, helping diagnose conditions such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy. - Home Sleep Study:
If you prefer not to sleep in a sleep laboratory, we also offer home sleep study. This portable device measures key indicators of sleep apnoea, including airflow, respiratory effort, and blood oxygen levels, providing valuable information for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Our technician will explain how to setup the equipment at home and when you are ready to go to bed. The sleep equipment will be programmed to switch on at your normal bedtime and is easy to apply. The equipment is small and nonintrusive, so you can go to sleep as normal.
When you return the equipment the next morning, the data will be downloaded and reported on. This comprehensive report will provide Dr Chan with an in-depth analysis in how your body copes during sleep. It provides a pathway to treat your concerns and guides effective treatment strategies to better sleep health.
Potential treatment strategies after your sleep study test
Depending on your sleep study results and what is suitable for you, Dr Chan could suggest one or a combination of the following treatments:
- Weight loss management
Losing weight can improve your overall health, including your sleep. - Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS)
This is like a mouthguard that you will wear at night. It will push your bottom jaw forward and prevent your tongue from falling backwards and blocking your airways.
A MAS needs to be custom-made by a dentist that is specialised in Sleep Medicine and checked for its effectiveness. - Positional Therapy
If you mainly stop breathing whilst sleeping on your back, a positional device can be recommended.
This is a small device with a strap that can sit around your neck or chest. When you are on your back it will vibrate, which will make you turn onto your side. - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
This device will sit on your bedside table and is fitted with a tube and mask. The mask will deliver air via the tube and from your CPAP machine into your airways to keep them open during the night. There are many different masks that either sit underneath/over your nose or covers your nose and mouth. The two most common CPAP machines are either a fixed pressure or adjusts the pressure as you need it.
The most important part of a successful CPAP journey is your sleep technician.
They will fit you with a comfortable mask and guide you through your CPAP journey. You will have several appointments where you will learn how to use and how to adapt to this new way of sleeping. It is like learning how to drive a car, and our sleep technician will help and support you through this initial time.