Laboratory sleep studies

The best way to diagnose or treat a sleep disorder is by spending a night in the sleep laboratory under direct observation. We utilise facilities at various private hospitals, as well as public hospitals for patients with insufficient health insurance.

A laboratory sleep study is a comprehensive recording of a number of different variables including:

  • Heart rate

  • Brain wave activity

  • Eye movements

  • Muscle tone

  • Respiratory effort

  • Breathing

  • Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels

  • Limb movement

  • Snoring

  • Body position

  • Infrared video recording

Admission is at 7:00pm and you are usually discharged by 7:00am the following morning. On the night of your sleep study, staff will attend to you and ensure that all the relevant monitoring is performed adequately. We often start CPAP treatment or adjust CPAP treatment on these nights, as well as check body positioning or the use of oxygen. Mandibular advancement splints used for snoring or sleep apnoea are also checked in this way.

Further daytime tests may occasionally be requested. These measure the propensity for sleepiness and the ability to maintain wakefulness (MSLT and MWT) and are usually undertaken for narcolepsy.

On the night of your sleep study, bring along your favourite pillow, toiletries, your usual snacks, drinks or nightcaps, reading material, as well as all your usual medications. If you have a CPAP unit or a mandibular advancement splint, bring this along unless you’ve been told otherwise.