Sleep Study Services

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Do I Need a Sleep Study or Sleep Test?

Valid reasons and indications for a sleep study may include any of the following:

  • Snoring which disturbs your bed partner (or neighbours!)
  • Always tired
  • Falling asleep whilst driving
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Going to the bathroom during the night
  • Waking up tired
  • Waking up with a headache
  • Waking up with a dry or sore throat
  • High blood pressure (or on medication)
  • Depressed (or on medication)
  • Sexual dysfunction (or on medication)
  • Thick, short neck (> 42 cm in men, > 38 cm in women)
  • BMI > 30 kg/cm although about 10% of people with sleep apnea are “skinny” – they just have narrow airways.

If you have any of the above symptoms, you may have sleep apnea which can be easily and quickly treated. The first step is to complete and send us the online Request Form.

How Much Will It Cost?

There is a small out-of-pocket fee. For Melbourne patients, the cost is $265. Otherwise, pls contact the clinic nearest to you. Home Sleep Studies Australia uses the latest Level 2 portable sleep technology which qualifies for Medicare funding.

What Will a Sleep Study or Sleep Test Tell Me?

The most important result is a measure of your sleep disturbance. The cause of most sleep disturbances is identified by measuring breathing, leg, and jaw movements.

Sleep disturbance is reported as the Arousal Index, which is the number of times you wake up per hour of sleep. Most of these awakenings are too short to remember (only 3 to 10 seconds in duration – you usually only remember being awake if it lasts more than 5 minutes) and it is normal to wake up to 5 times per hour. Waking 5 to 15 times is considered mild disruption while waking more than 15 times per hour definitely indicates a sleeping problem that requires urgent intervening treatment. The sleep study/sleep test also reports how many times you stop breathing or have reduced breathing per hour (AHI – Apnea Hypopnoea Index or RDI -Respiratory Disturbance Index) and how many times your legs twitch per hour (PLMI – Periodic Limb Movement Index).

What Treatments Are Available?

Depends on the diagnosis. Many people with sleeping problems have a combination of up to 88 different sleep disorders as defined by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD). That is why a full sleep study test is so important.

For example:

  • If the sleep study or sleep test shows only mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and your partner wants some relief from your snoring, then a mandibular advancement splint is your best option. These need to be fitted by a specially trained dentist and made from a dental impression.
  • If the sleep study or sleep test shows moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and you suffer from significant symptoms such as tiredness, headaches or high blood pressure, you should start using CPAP immediately.
  • If you are diagnosed with Periodic Limb Movements Syndrome (PLM Index > 5) or Restless Leg Syndrome, the doctor may prescribe central nervous system depressants, stress the importance of avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine, check for iron deficiency and sleep as cool as possible. Simple treatments include relaxation in the hours prior to sleep and high doses of magnesium supplementation.

Can My GP Request The Sleep Study Directly?

YES. Please click here for a request form for the GP to sign.

What is the waiting time to have a sleep study test?

Usually 1 to 2 weeks but within days if urgent. Results are available the next day. Treatment with CPAP is available immediately for obvious cases of obstructive sleep apnea, especially with significant symptoms such as falling asleep driving.

Can it be done in my home?

YES.

We come to your home in the evening, any night of the week between 8 and 10pm. Takes 30mins to put the mobile-phone size sleep monitor over your t-shirt and go through a quality check to make sure everything is working. We just need access to a kitchen benchtop – no need to go into your bedroom.

Does it include audio-video?

YES (optional only by special request).
A special IR night-vision camera is available for sleep-walking or suspected REM Movement Behaviour Disorder, which can cause someone to act out their dreams and be violent to their partner. However, we usually focus on diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea first which can be a trigger to these episodes.

Does it include leg movements?

YES (optional only).

Leg movements are important for the diagnosis of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome, especially in the absence of obvious obstructive sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. About 25% of insomnia can be caused by a physical problem such as obstructive sleep apnea or periodic leg movement syndrome.

Does it include jaw movement?

YES.

Did you know 95% of people grind or clench their teeth at some point in their lives? Has your dentist noticed any cracks in your teeth or excessive wear? Home Sleep Studies Australia specialises in diagnosing bruxism or teeth grinding.

Home Sleep Study Benefits Compared to Hospital Sleep Studies

Benefits to patients

  • Independent diagnosis
  • Independent assessment of treatment
  • Sleep study test in the comfort of your own home
  • No hospital bed fees
  • Freedom of movement
  • Move around and resume most daily activities while wired up
  • Go to the bathroom at any time during the night without assistance
  • Roll over in bed easily
  • FAST! Results are available the next day. Full doctors report within one week.
  • Treatment can start the next day.
  • No private health cover required
  • No GP referral required (this is provided as part of the service)
  • Sleep study reported by experienced Sleep Scientists and Sleep Physicians based in Australia

Benefits to GPs, dentists, ENT surgeons and other doctors

  • Direct request for a sleep study
  • Fast turnaround time – sleep study reported by a Sleep Scientist and Sleep Physician usually within 10 working days
  • No capital outlay required for equipment – the sleep monitoring system is on permanent loan (as long as it is used frequently)
  • Staff training provided and assistance in finding staff if required

Benefits to Sleep Physicians

  • See patients who are more educated and have already tried simple treatments
  • Propose a treatment plan at the first consultation with the benefit of facts from a full diagnostic PSG sleep study report
  • Provide a more efficient, lower cost sleep diagnostic and treatment service to a greater number of patients

Benefits to Private Health Funds, Hospitals and Governments

  • Frees up bed spaces
  • Less than half total cost of diagnosing and treating sleep disorders
  • Early detection and treatment minimizes chances of patient’s developing more costly health complications such as high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease

FAQs

What happens during a sleep study?

Sensors measuring sleep, breathing and muscle movement record while you sleep. Home Sleep’s Level 2 sleep study in Melbourne involves someone coming to your home in the evening to put the wires on, then they leave and you spend an otherwise normal night at home.

How many hours of sleep do you need for a sleep study?

Medicare requires an 8 hour recording but there is no defined amount of sleep required during the recording. It’s best to have as close as possible to a normal night’s sleep, at least 4-5 hours is usually enough depending on what sleep stages and sleep positions are sampled.

What can be diagnosed from a sleep study?

Sleep related breathing disorders including obstructive sleep apnoea, central sleep apnoea, upper-airway resistance syndrome and cheyne-stokes respiration, as well as movement disorders such as periodic limb movement disorder.

Do you have to sleep on your back during a sleep study?

It’s useful to get at least some sleep on your back and some on your side during a sleep study as most people’s sleep apnoea severity varies depending on sleeping position.

Can your spouse sleep with you during a sleep study?

Yes, a bed partner will not affect the results of the level 2 home sleep study. For a level 1 hospital study, generally only the patient is permitted to stay.

What should you not do before a sleep study?

You should avoid taking any substance you would not normally that would affect your sleep or breathing eg: alcohol or sedatives that will increase the severity of sleep apnoea.

What happens if I can't sleep during a sleep study?

The amount of sleep recorded during a sleep study isn’t nearly as important as how you breathe while you are asleep. It’s extremely rare during a level 2 home sleep study that someone doesn’t get enough sleep. Level 1 hospital studies are much more likely to fail due to not enough sleep, in which case the study will need to be repeated to get an accurate diagnosis.

How long does it take to get results from a sleep study?

A study conducted by Home Sleep can provide results as early as the day following your sleep study.

Do I need a referral for a sleep study in Australia?

Normally yes, although if you book with Home Sleep, we can organise a referral on your behalf

What is the cost of a sleep study test?

A level 2 Home Sleep study including someone coming to you to set up the study and a consultation the following day to analyse the study and discuss your results is $265 out of pocket, after the Medicare rebate.