478-745-5779

Services

As a comprehensive sleep clinic, Sleep Practitioners offers a wide range of diagnostic sleep services, including physician consultations, in-lab testing, home sleep testing and therapy options such as CPAP, Auto-PAP and Bi-level devices. We also provide a continuum of care for patients that offers CPAP management to enhance compliance and bring therapy to a whole new level.

 

 

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Overnight Sleep Study Service

The most basic test is called a polysomnogram, or PSG. During this study, the patient comes to one of our clinics and is set up by a trained technician. Once the patient is ready to go to sleep, the study will gather comprehensive information including sleep stages, respiration, body position, brain wave activity, eye movement, muscle movement, and electrical activity of the heart. The study is scored and then interpreted by our board certified sleep physicians. The results are then sent to the referring doctor. This study is used to diagnose most sleep disorders including Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, REM disorders as well as a host of other sleep disturbances. Tests vary depending on the individual case, and some measurements taken may include:

  • Brain waves (Electro-Encephalogram, EEG)
  • Heart waves (Electro-Cardiogram, EKG)
  • Eye Movements (Electro-Oculargram, EOG)
  • Limb Movements (Electro-Myogram, EMG)
  • Breathing (nasal/oral)
  • Bands around the torso to measure chest, abdomen movements during breathing
  • Sensors on the legs to measure leg movement
  • Blood oxygen (Pulse Oximetry: SpO2)

Home Sleep Study

For those patients who are unable or unwilling to come to the sleep clinic, we offer Home Sleep Studies. With the HST, the patient takes the study in the comfort and convenience of their own bed. These studies are primarily used to rule in or rule out whether the patient has Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The patient either comes to our office or we ship the device to them. When ready for bed, the patient follows the instruction card and watches the DVD to set up the easy-to-use device. In the morning, the patient returns the device to our clinic, where the information is downloaded, scored, and then interpreted by our sleep physicians. A home sleep study may be performed for up to three consecutive nights.

 

Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

This test may be prescribed for those patients who exhibit excessive daytime sleepiness and may have narcolepsy. This test measures how long it takes a person to fall asleep. The patient stays overnight at the sleep lab for the polysomnogram and the next day for this test. During this test, the patient will take 15-minute naps every two hours, beginning the morning after your nighttime sleep test. Between naps you must try to stay awake. A sleep technologist will note the amount of time it takes for you to fall asleep and your sleep patterns during the naps. Our board certified sleep physician will use the results to rule out, or make a diagnosis of, narcolepsy.

Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)

This test measures one’s ability to stay awake during a time when they normally would not sleep. The patient stays at the sleep center overnight and into the following day. Unlike the MSLT, the patient will attempt to stay awake without napping during the daytime. Our board certified sleep physician will use the results to rule out, or make a diagnosis of, narcolepsy.