Sleep Studies
Sleep Study
A diagnostic Sleep Study is recommended for individuals experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder.
Diagnostic Sleep Studies are conducted in a sleep laboratory or at home.
In lab Sleep Studies are conducted in St John of God Hospital Sleep Laboratory and attended by a qualified Sleep Medicine Technician.
Home Sleep Studies are arranged through Dr Steinforts practice in Bellerine Street, Geelong.
Once your referral or sleep medicine request form has been received, it will be reviewed by Dr Steinfort. Contact will generally be made by a sleep nurse specialist within a few days to confirm the main problem and arrange a Diagnostic Sleep Study prior to an appointment with Dr Steinfort. Patients are generally able to complete their Sleep Study within a couple of weeks of being referred to Dr Steinfort.
Dr Steinfort will review and score the entire sleep study by examining the raw data followed by a consultation appointment approximately 2-4 weeks later. This will also allow the clinical assessment to be made together with the results so as to guide appropriate management. The results will include real time examples of what happens when individuals are asleep all of which will be explained by Dr Steinfort. Our practise is to integrate the clinical sleep problem by assessing the sleep partner’s input, reviewing any associated medical conditions, confirming the nature and severity of the sleep problem via an appropriate sleep study and advising on treatment or management options.
Diagnostic Sleep Study
A diagnostic sleep study is a detailed investigation of the physiology of sleep using sensitive computer monitoring equipment. Diagnostic sleep studies arranged by Dr Steinfort are Medicare rebatable. It is important to note that sleep studies arranged by someone other than a Sleep Physician eg: a dentist, do not carry with them a rebate making them costly.
In-lab Sleep Study: most reliable and technically accurate study. If you are referred for an in lab sleep study, you will stay overnight in a sleep laboratory, where a trained Sleep Medicine Technician will closely monitor your study to ensure quality signals are maintained. Any leads, which loosen or fall off, will be reattached allowing an accurate recording to be obtained in order to secure a correct diagnosis. In-lab sleep studies record up to 16 different signals, allowing for assessment of every physiological aspect of your sleep and are the best option if there are issues of cognitive decline, heart failure, restless legs, nocturnal epilepsy or REM behaviour disorder.
In-lab sleep studies also allow therapy implementation (CPAP) under the guidance of trained staff. Implementation of CPAP is called a CPAP titration sleep study, where throughout the night your Sleep Medicine Technician determines the exact level of CPAP that is required, specific to your disorder and is able to introduce different masks, which may allow a more comfortable sleep.
The in-lab sleep study may include digital video recording for assistance in accurate diagnosis of parasomnias, positional disorders and leg movement disorder detection.
Home based sleep study: Performed overnight at home after receiving instructions how to use the equipment. Home based sleep studies measure brain wave activity, muscle movement, heart rate leg movements, sleep position, effort to breath, nasal airflow, snoring, and oxygen levels. If you are suspected of having moderate-to-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), then a home sleep test may be appropriate for confirming this diagnosis. If your severity of OSA is predicted to be lower than this, if you are being investigated for any other sleep disorder or if you have a complex medical history, then a home sleep test is often not appropriate and an attended in-lab sleep study should be recommended.