What is involved in a sleep study?
A sleep study is an overnight observation of your body while you are asleep in our specialized lab, to find patterns, and/or disruptions in your sleep. Disrupted sleep from certain conditions can lead to daytime sleepiness and medical complications such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
During the sleep study, the following areas may be measured with body sensors:
- Brain waves
- Heart beat
- Eye movement
- Muscle tone and body position
- Leg movement
- Breathing
- Oxygen levels
To be seen the Sleep Lab, your physician needs to fill out a referral form.
If you have excessive daytime sleepiness, make sure that someone drives you to and from your sleep study. Please advise the booking staff if you have any allergies, mobility aids (cane, walker or wheelchair), any risk of falls, and/or if you require any special assistance during the sleep study.
How to Prepare for Your Sleep Study
Please do not:
- Use any caffeinated products after 3 p.m.
- Wear perfume or jewellery or bring large sums of money
- Nap during the day
- Use hair gel or products
Please bring the following items with you to your overnight sleep study:
- Health card
- Comfortable/suitable attire to sleep
- Slippers
- Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
- Medications (continue taking them as usual)
- Activities to help you relax (books, puzzles, etc.)
- Snacks (not provided by the centre)
- Your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unit, if you use one
During Your Sleep Study
Your sleep technologist will show you to your private room, where you will be asked to change into your night clothes and fill in pre-sleep questionnaires. We will attach various sensors for the study. When you are ready for bed (no later than 11.00 p.m.), the sleep technologist will connect the equipment to the monitoring devices and start the study. The equipment will be calibrated and the lights turned out.
The sleep study will begin no later than 11.00 p.m. and will be finished by 6.00 a.m.
After Your Sleep Study
In the morning, when the test is completed the sleep technologist will remove the sensors and equipment. You will be asked to complete the post-sleep questionnaire, get your parking stub validated, and then you will be free to go.
Most patients are ready to leave between 6 – 6.30 a.m.
Before you leave, please ensure to take all your belongings.
Please note, the sleep technologist is NOT authorized to discuss your test results with you.
