Your primary care physician may recommend one or more of these tests:

• Polysomnogram: This painless, noninvasive test monitors brain waves, breathing patterns, heart activity, and body movements during an all-night sleep period. The recorded patterns are then studied by our sleep physician, who diagnoses the different types of sleep disorders.

• Continuous positive air pressure and bi-level positive airway pressure (CPAP/BiPAP) test: This test is often requested in the adult patient after he or she has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. In children, the CPAP/BiPAP test may be indicated if adenotonsillectomy (removal of adenoids and tonsils) is not indicated or was not successful in treating obstructive sleep apnea. During this test, a mask is placed over the nose and/or face to help prevent snoring and apnea (interrupted breathing) during the normal sleep period. Different levels of air pressure are gradually delivered to the airway to help open the airway passages during sleep to assist in maintaining a normal sleep cycle. This test is used to determine the correct air pressure needed to keep the airways open. Consistent use of the CPAP or BiPAP machine is critical in the successful treatment of sleep apnea. Practice with the mask may be necessary prior to coming to the sleep clinic for this test.

• Multiple sleep latency test: This assessment is usually performed the day after the polysomnogram is administered. It is also useful to study the intensity of daytime sleepiness and to determine if narcolepsy is present.