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When to See a Doctor – How Sleep Disorders Are Diagnosed |
To get an accurate diagnosis of your sleep problem, your healthcare provider or a sleep specialist will assess your symptoms and review your sleep diary and your bedmate’s report. He or she will also talk over specific details about your health history and sleep habits and any emotional concerns or mood changes to see if a psychological problem could be disrupting your sleep.
Your healthcare provider may also ask you to complete two short quizzes: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which gives an indication of your sleepiness during eight daily activities, and a Sleep Evaluation Test, a true/false questionnaire.
A physical examination, including some laboratory tests, can rule out underlying medical causes of your sleep problems. Common diagnostic tests for sleep disorders include the following:
- A polysomnogram monitors several sleep-related functions while you slumber, such as brain waves, heart rate, breathing rate, eye movement, muscle activity, and blood oxygen levels.
- A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) sleep study measures air flow through your nose and mouth during sleep. (This may be combined with the polysomnogram.)
- A Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) or nap study measures the tendency to fall asleep, while your brain waves, chin muscle activity, and eye movements are recorded.
- A Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) is similar to the MSLT, but it measures your ability to stay awake in a nonstimulating environment.
Together, all of the above information can help your healthcare provider get an accurate diagnosis and determine which therapies will be most effective for your condition.
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