Sleep Testing
Sleep tests help doctors diagnose sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, and sleepwalking..
Preparing for an in-lab Sleep Test
- Bring to your appointment clothes suitable for sleeping.
- Arrive to the appointment with clean hair and skin. Do not apply creams, make-up or oils to the skin.
- Men who do not usually keep facial hair must be cleanly shaven around the jawline, any facial hair around the chin or a moustache is fine for the sleep study. If you have a beard longer than 2 cm around the jawline it may be acceptable to leave it as is, please ask the technician when you arrive for the sleep study if unsure. This is to allow proper attachment of the skin sensors.
- Ladies wearing nail polish or acrylic/artificial nails will need to have at least one fingernail natural so that an oxygen monitoring probe may be placed on that finger.
- You will have have a private room overnight and a trained sleep technician will be in constant attendance at the clinic should you need any assistance and to monitor the signals from the sensors.
Preparing for a portable Home-based Sleep Test (HST):
- Arrive to your appointment wearing clothes suitable for sleeping as you will not be able to change once leaving the clinic.
- A loose fitting t-shirt works well, once the monitor and wires are fitted clothing on the upper body cannot be removed.
- A hat and button-up/zip-up top may be used to cover the monitoring equipment whilst travelling home.
- Arrive to the appointment with clean hair and skin. Do not apply creams, make-up or oils to the skin.
- Men who do not usually keep facial hair must be cleanly shaven around the jawline, any facial hair around the chin or a moustache is fine for the sleep study. If you have a beard longer than 2 cm around the jawline it may be acceptable to leave it as is, please ask the technician when you arrive for the sleep study if unsure. This is to allow proper attachment of the skin sensors.
- Ladies wearing nail polish or acrylic/artificial nails will need to have least one fingernail natural so that an oxygen monitoring probe may be placed on that finger.
- An individual is able to walk, drive home, eat dinner, use the toilet, and roll in any direction whilst sleeping (sleeping on you stomach will not be possible during the test).
- You cannot shower, bath, or engage in strenuous activity such as exercise once the monitoring equipment is applied.
- There are no restrictions on eating or drinking (this includes no restriction on alcohol if this is part of one’s normal bedtime routine).
- In the morning after the study, the sleep monitoring equipment is removed by the patient (as instructed by the Sleep Technician), placed in a bag (which is provided) and returned back to the Sleep Clinic where the setup took place, from 9am until midday Monday-Friday (unless otherwise instructed).