Lifting you out of sleep poverty.
Sleep Studies
Sleep disorders can have a significant impact on various aspects of your health, including your emotional state, cognitive functioning, energy levels and overall well-being.
With symptoms difficult to identify, and a tendency to evolve gradually over time, sleep disorders are generally underdiagnosed.
Sleep studies aim to identify a range of disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea or parasomnias; assess the quality and quantity of sleep and enable early intervention. They can also help determine which treatment would prove most beneficial, and monitor progress.
Warning signs of a sleep disorder include insomnia, snoring, headaches, tiredness, daytime drowsiness, difficulty keeping to schedules, poor performance, concentration and memory problems, snacking at night, weight issues, and irritability, among many others.
Diagnosing the exact nature of your sleep issues allows us to provide specific treatment recommendations and, when necessary, prescribe the appropriate treatment in order to restore restful sleep and a better quality of life.
We offer:
- Individual, thorough and detailed analysis of sleep problems.
- Collection of clinical information and a structured sleep scale evaluation.
- Tailored therapeutic plans.
- Advice regarding correct sleep hygiene, defining the main difficulties and their possible impact on family or individual relationships.
- Information on sleep patterns and the sleep-wake cycle, potential disruptive factors and how to adapt biorhythms to your requirements.
- Specialist referrals where appropriate.
Get in touch to book a consultation.
Diagnostic Investigations
Sleep Exams
Outpatient Polysomnography.
A Polygraphic Sleep Record, Level 2, is an exam that allows you to record and analyse various parameters of the body during sleep, with the aim of identifying associated disorders and diseases.
The recording is performed on an outpatient basis (in the comfort of your home), and monitors many aspects of sleep including brain activity, body movements, specific muscle activity (legs and chin), and cardiac and respiratory activity.
Preparation:
- Wash your hair on the day of the exam or the day before. After washing, do not apply any products such as lacquer, gel, wax or foam.
- When you come to have the device fitted, bring practical clothing and a t-shirt or pyjama top that will be comfortable to sleep in when at home. This is essential as, once you are wearing the device (with cables running from the head to both legs), you will be unable to change clothing, except for loose fitted trousers (such as joggers or pyjama bottoms), and a coat or jacket to wear on your way home.
Duration:
- Allow 60 minutes at the end of the day to have the device (which you will keep on all night), fitted, and then again the following morning to have the equipment removed.
Cardio-respiratory Sleep Polygraphy.
Polygraphic Sleep Recording, Level 3 (simpler than level 2 and with a narrower scope) is also carried out at the patient’s home and allows monitoring of sleep at the cardiac and respiratory level. It is the method indicated when you want to screen for Sleep Apnea, which is one of the most frequent sleep disorders. For other diagnoses, a more comprehensive, level 2 exam is required.
The device is easy to put on and can be done at home without assistance. Instructions on how to do so will be given when you pick the device up from NeuroLoulé. It can also be easily removed the following day, and returned to the clinic by someone else if necessary.
Preparation:
- Wear practical, comfortable clothing so you can learn how to fit the device.
Duration:
- Approximately 30 minutes.
Exam Preparation:
- Perform your everyday hygiene routine.
- Stick with your usual diet (no fasting, and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks on the day of the exam).
- Take your regular medication.
Bring a list naming all medications you are currently taking to the clinic, along with your referral, and clinical information.
Get in touch to book your test.
FAQ's
How do I know if I have a sleep disorder?
The most frequent symptoms include daytime drowsiness, exhaustion, insomnia, poor performance, snoring, and problems with concentration and memory. Whilst none of these symptoms in isolation mean you have a sleep disorder, the more you have the more likely it is there is a problem.
What benefits would I receive from undergoing a sleep study?
A sleep study aids in the diagnosis of a suspected sleep disorder and allows for a tailored, specific treatment plan. When left undiagnosed, a lack of quality sleep may cause all manner of physical and mental health issues and, as such, can have long-term, detrimental effects on your life and the lives of those around you.
How long does a sleep study take to complete?
Sleep studies are usually performed in a single night. In instances where the test night of the exam is atypical (eg. anxiety, agitation, unusual insomnia), the study may have to be repeated another night.
Where is the sleep study performed?
Sleep studies are undertaken in the comfort of the patient’s home. Depending on the specific study required, a device will either be fitted at the clinic, or instructions will be given as to how it can be fitted at home. The patient then returns home and the device will record various aspects of his or her sleep that night.
If I undergo treatment, how long will it be before I can expect to see results?
In most cases, results are experienced rapidly. Depending on your specific treatment plan and the way in which you adapt and respond to it, (which generally takes several days), you should become aware of improvement to your sleep within 1-2 weeks.
