A sleep study is a professional, clinical assessment to help identify potential sleep disorders. All sleep studies at UHealth Sleep Center are conducted by specially-trained technologists who monitor your sleep during the night while attempting to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

During a sleep study, you will arrive at the Sleep Center and meet our sleep technologist. Once you are settled, our technologist will apply small foam sensors called electrodes to your head, chest area and legs. Elastic bands will be placed around your chest and abdomen. These monitors will be connected to wires that attach to our recording equipment. The electrodes and bands will monitor your brain wave activity, muscle tone, heart rhythm, and eye movements. Each room has an open intercom that will enable you to communicate with our technologist at any time. The recording of the study also includes the intercom and video records, which are an integral portion of the study for the interpreting physician to reference, if necessary, to ensure accurate diagnosis. After the electrodes are applied, you may have some free time to read or watch TV. The testing will begin between 10 pm and 11 pm unless you request to go to bed earlier. Our technicians will request that each patient turn off the TV shortly after testing begins to ensure an optimal sleep study. This procedure is non-invasive and pain free.

Pack as you would for an overnight stay at a friend’s house. For the benefit of your privacy and comfort, please bring appropriate and comfortable nightclothes (such as T-shirts and sweat pants or pajama top and bottoms). Review the recommended checklist below to ensure that you have everything you might need. Also please bring the directions and completed forms.

A large amount of information is collected during your sleep study. A sleep specialist will interpret this information and a formal report with recommendations will be sent to your doctor. On the night of the study, our sleep technologists cannot provide you with any diagnosis information about your testing results. Educational information and sleep hygiene tips will be given to you upon leaving. The technicians will do their best to answer your questions. It usually takes 7 business days for your doctor to receive your formal report. Please schedule a follow-up visit with your physician after that time to discuss the findings and recommendations for treatment. If your doctor has not called you with a follow up appointment in order to discuss test results within 7 days please feel free to contact our UHealth Sleep Center in order to schedule an office visit with one of our sleep medicine board-certified physicians.

Recommended Check List

• Toiletries and make-up
• Bathrobe
• Slippers
• Hair dryer
• Comfortable night clothes (pajamas or T-shirt and shorts or sweat pants)
• Reading material
• Medications (Take all your medications as prescribed and bring them to the sleep study if necessary. We will not be able to dispense medications to you during the sleep study.)
• Change of clothes
• Special pillow/ blanket if desired
• Snack
• Any special item desired in order to have an uninterrupted and comfortable night of sleep Every sleep study rooms is a private room and has a private bathroom. Fresh towels and bed linens will be provided.

What to Expect

Please eat dinner before arriving for your sleep study though you may bring a snack if you wish. Bottled water is available in the evening and coffee in the morning but meals are not provided. You may find that a shower before arriving for your study will make you feel more relaxed. It is important that your skin and hair are clean and dry. Wash and dry your hair and do not apply any creams, lotions, sprays, oils, gels, dark nail polish, or make-up. You may apply deodorant. The sensor has a particularly difficult time reading through an acrylic finger nail so we ask that you remove the acrylic from at least one finger nail. Electrodes and paste will be placed on your scalp though they wash out easily. Keep in mind that your hairstyle cannot interfere with the electrode placement. Avoid napping all day and caffeine (coffee, colas, chocolates, etc.) after 12:00 noon on the day of your study. Our center is a non-smoking facility, and smoking in the building is prohibited at all times. Smoking during the testing or in the middle of the night is not allowed.

If you are running late, please contact our center with your approximate time of arrival. If you have special needs, please call our office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the sleep study procedure. If you use a walker or wheelchair, we can accommodate you. Our facility is handicap accessible. If you need assistance with the restroom during the night or special care, please call our office to discuss having a family member or caregiver stay with you for the night. We will arrange for your caregiver to sleep in a room close by or in your room in a recliner.

You may find it a bit strange at first to sleep while connected to wires and electrodes but most people do not find them uncomfortable enough where they are prevented from falling asleep. We will make every effort to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. If a problem arises, our technologist will make adjustments. Every bedroom has an open intercom that will enable you to communicate with our technologist at any time. If you need to use the bathroom during the night, our technologists will assist and disconnect you temporarily. Throughout the night, try to sleep as normally as possible.

If you are not already awake, you will be awakened at approximately 5 a.m. If you need to make arrangements to have someone transport you at the conclusion of your study, you should be picked up by no later than 6:30 a.m. We are able to make exceptions if necessary, if a request is made in advance. Once you wake up, you will need to schedule an additional 30 minutes to your usual morning preparation time to allow us to remove the electrodes. You may take a shower to remove the creams and paste that were used to attach the electrodes to your scalp and body prior to the sleep study. You will have a private bathroom and fresh towels and wash cloths will be provided. If you need to leave the center at a certain time, please let us know when you arrive in the center. We will need to have at least 6 hours of recording time to ensure an accurate study and meet the requirements of the insurance companies, but we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

Why Choose UHealth?

Sleep studies offered 24/7 in a state-of-the-art sleep center. You can rest assured that you receive the most advanced care available. Sleep studies and tests are conducted in a modern, comfortable center — including the latest technology and a friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Regional leaders in sleep medicine and sleep surgery. As a fully accredited comprehensive sleep center, our program meets and exceeds the rigorous standards set by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. This designation recognizes our facility, services, and providers for the highest commitment to safety and quality care.

Experts who recognize and treat all forms of sleep-disordered breathing problems. We understand how breathing problems progress from snoring in childhood to upper airway resistance and obstructive sleep apnea in adulthood. This means we recognize and treat symptoms early, so you get the right care for your specific condition.

Innovative non-surgical and surgical therapies for sleep-disordered breathing. As a comprehensive sleep center, we offer a wide range of innovative non-surgical and minimally invasive surgical treatments, often in combination. These include myofunctional therapy, upper airway stimulation, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, and endoscopic sinus surgery.