A polysomnogram or PSG (also known as a sleep study) is the gold-standard test for the investigation of children or adults who have sleep disorders and breathing problems during sleep (such as obstructive sleep apnea). Sleep Studies are preformed at a Sleep Clinic or in hospital and in some cases at home.
A sleep study involves measuring sleep and breathing patterns. This requires attaching small sensors to the head, face and chest at the sleep clinic. These sensors stick to the skin and are connected to the Sleep Study equipment by thin wires. A sensor at the nose measures whether there are any pauses in breathing and the bands around the chest and tummy measure how hard you are trying to breathe.
This provides information about the quality of sleep and can detect problems that occur with a person’s breathing while they are asleep.
Key points to remember about a sleep study (polysomnography – PSG)
- a polysomnogram (sleep study) is the gold-standard test for the investigation of breathing problems during sleep
- it requires attaching small sensors to you or your child’s head, face, chest and legs
- it takes 1 to 2 hours to place all the sensors but does not hurt
- you or your child will need to sleep the night with the sensors in place
- Sleep Studies are performed either in a hospital ward, sleep clinic or at home.