Home Sleep Test Patient FAQs

What is a sleep test?
What is a home sleep test (HST)?
What is the difference between a Home Sleep Test and a sleep test performed in a Sleep Lab?
Is an HST better than a sleep test performed at the sleep lab?
Does someone actually come to my home?
What happens when I go to the sleep center to pick up the monitor?
Is there a lot of equipment? Is it heavy?
What if I have special needs?

How complicated is it to set up the equipment at home?
What if I have trouble when I get home?
How do I get ready for the study?
Will I be able to sleep with the monitor attached to me?
How many hours do I need to sleep with the monitor?
Can I take my medications?
Can I wear nail polish?
Can I have a nap?
Can I have caffeine?
Can I smoke?

How do I return the equipment?
What happens after my sleep study?
When will my doctor receive my results?
What if I’m diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea?
What is CPAP and how will it help me?
Will I need CPAP therapy for the rest of my life?
What if I decide CPAP isn’t for me?

Before The Home Sleep Test

What is a sleep test?

For most patients, a sleep study is a key diagnostic component of a sleep disorder evaluation. A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram (PSG), measures your brain wave activity, eye movements, muscle contractions, heart activity, breathing and blood oxygenation during sleep.

The information we collect during your study is reviewed and analyzed by our sleep specialists.

What is a home sleep test (HST)?

A home sleep study is a modified sleep study that is performed in your home with a portable monitor. HST is used only to look for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What is the difference between a Home Sleep Test and a sleep test performed in a Sleep Lab?

A home sleep test is performed in your home versus at a sleep lab. The portable monitoring device measures oxygen saturation, heart rate, air flow and effort. It will also record snoring and position.

A sleep test that is performed in a sleep lab will measure the above, but will additionally measure brain waves, sleep time and leg movements.

Is an HST better than a sleep test performed at the sleep lab?

In patients with a high likelihood of moderate to severe sleep apnea, home sleep testing is comparable to tests performed in the sleep lab. However, HST tends to underestimate severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to an in-laboratory sleep test, but it does detect the presence of OSA.

Does someone actually come to my home?

No. You will come to the sleep clinic to pick up the portable monitor for use at your home when you go to sleep.

What happens when I go to the sleep center to pick up the monitor?

You will pick up your portable monitor at the scheduled location. You will have a 40 minute appointment with a sleep technician who will explain the process and show you how to set up the machine.

Is there a lot of equipment? Is it heavy?

It is small, extremely light and comes in a carrying case.

What if I have special needs?

Please call our office between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. We will try to accommodate your needs and answer any questions you may have about the home sleep study process.

During the Home Sleep Test

How complicated is it to set up the equipment at home?

There are basically 4 simple steps. 1) Place a belt around your mid-section. 2) Attach a clip on your finger. 3) Apply an airflow sensor under your nose. 4) Turn the machine on.

The portable monitor is user-friendly and has been easy to use for our patients. You will be provided a sheet with step by step directions to assist you at home.

What if I have trouble when I get home?

You will be given a 24-hour number to call if you have any problems or questions.

How do I get ready for the study?

After you change into your sleepwear, set up the portable monitor according to the instructions.

Will I be able to sleep with the monitor attached to me?

You may find it a bit strange at first, but most people do not find it uncomfortable or an obstacle to falling asleep.

How many hours do I need to sleep with the monitor?

You will need to sleep with the monitor all night.

Can I take my medications?

Please take your medications as usual. We also recommend that you discuss with your physician whether your medications will affect the sleep study results.

Can I wear nail polish?

If you wear nail polish, please remove it from one finger to obtain a good signal from the finger clip oxygen sensor.

During the Home Sleep Test

Can I have a nap?

It is important that you avoid napping on the day of the study.

Can I have caffeine?

Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, energy drinks, chocolates, etc.) after 12:00 noon on the day of the study.

Can I smoke?

Do whatever you would normally, however, we recommend that you do not smoke while wearing the device.

After the Home Sleep Test

How do I return the equipment?

The morning after your home sleep test, the monitor should either be dropped off at the location you received it, or returned via DHL in the prepaid envelope.

What happens after my sleep study?

A large amount of information is collected during your sleep study. A sleep specialist will analyze this information and a formal report with recommendations will be sent to your doctor. On the night of the study, the sleep technologists cannot provide you with any information about your testing results.

When will my doctor receive my results?

It usually takes two-three weeks 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 you have seen one of our specialists, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.

NOTE: if you arranged for a 24-hour turnaround, you will return to the clinic with the device the next day and you will meet with the sleep specialist who will review the study with you, discuss and initiate treatment (if necessary).

What if I’m diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea?

If your test results show you have obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will recommend you receive treatment. The most common and most effective treatment is CPAP.

What is CPAP and how will it help me?

CPAP is an acronym for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

CPAP is a small machine that delivers a steady, gentle flow of air delivered through a soft, pliable nasal mask worn over the nose. The machine forces air into the nasal passages at pressures high enough to keep the airway from collapsing, allowing normal breathing.

CPAP is currently the best treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea. Daytime sleepiness improves or resolves. Heart function and hypertension also improve. And, importantly, the quality of life improves.

Will I need CPAP therapy for the rest of my life?

CPAP therapy is a lifetime treatment for most. However, some positive changes in lifestyle, such as weight reduction, may lead to a decrease in the therapeutic CPAP pressure or may eliminate the need for continued CPAP therapy. Only your physician, with assistance from the CPAP counselor, can make that determination, which is why it is important to make and keep your follow-up appointments.

What if I decide CPAP isn’t for me?

We recommend trying CPAP for at least a month or two. It does take a little while to adapt to using CPAP, but it remains the single most effective treatment for sleep apnea. If after trying CPAP you still decide it’s not for you, we encourage you to look into other treatment options.

Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can lead to more serious problems and may increase your risk for hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and depression.