ROBUST SLEEP TESTING OFTEN RESULTS IN IMPROVED HEALTH & QUALITY OF LIFE
Services We Offer
Howard University Hospital Sleep Disorders Center is forging a new path in sleep health to help people improve their lives. Here is a list of services we provide to our patients.
In Depth Evaluation
A sleep study is a test that records the activity of the body during sleep. There are five main types of sleep studies that use different methods to test for different sleep characteristics and disorders. These include simple sleep studies, polysomnography, multiple sleep latency tests, maintenance of wakefulness tests and home based sleep tests. Sleep studies are useful in identifying and ruling out various sleep disorders and providing insight into brain activity and the other physiological factors of both sleep disorders and normal sleep.
Polysomnogram
Polysomnogram is a comprehensive test (sleep study) used to diagnose sleep disorders. Polysomnogram records your brain waves, the oxygen level in your blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements during the study. A Polysomnogram may be done at a sleep disorders unit within a hospital or at a sleep center.
Titration Studies
A Titration study is an overnight sleep study used to properly set continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. CPAP is a common treatment used to manage sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea, hypoventilation, and hypoxemia.
During a CPAP titration sleep study, it’s important to try several types of masks with low air pressure and choose one that is comfortable before your study even begins. Prior to a sleep study, which could lead to CPAP therapy, you should try on and test a few masks to ensure it fits your facial structure. Individuals who suffer from bouts of claustrophobia will fare better if they get used to the air pressure by holding the mask to their face before they put the headgear on. The sleep specialist should allow you to control the pace in order to become acclimated.
Specialized Sleep Services Are Available For All Sleep Center Patients
Multiple Sleep Latency Tests
The Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) checks for excessive daytime sleepiness by measuring how quickly you fall asleep in a quiet environment during the day. Also known as a daytime nap study, the MSLT is used to diagnose narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. The MSLT consists of a full-day test that includes five scheduled naps separated by two-hour breaks. This test is always done following a sleep study that measures your sleep quality and duration.
Home Based Sleep Apnea Tests
A home based sleep apnea test is meant to evaluate a patient for sleep apnea. The test monitors breathing parameters during your sleep. The sleep test does not analyze how long someone is in a light or a deep sleep. Instead, it will measure pauses and absence of breathing; how much effort it takes to breathe and whether your breathing is shallow. Sensors probe your finger, measuring oxygen levels. A mask with tubes are inserted into your nostrils, secured around your ears, similar to an oxygen mask. Other sensors are placed on your abdomen and chest to measure their rise and fall as you breathe. A sleep clinic physician typically orders the home based sleep apnea test.