FAQs

General Inquiries

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study is a non-invasive and painless procedure that is used to help diagnose sleep related problems. A sleep study is considered a specialized diagnostic procedure, therefore a doctor’s referral is required.

The technical term for a sleep study is a polysomnogram or PSG. During the study, gently placed sensors will record brain activity, breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate and body movements while you are asleep.

A sleep technician will perform your study from a separate room noting important details throughout the night.

Once your study is completed it will be interpreted by our sleep physician, after which the results will sent to your referring doctor who will be able to discuss them with you.

For more details about the sleep services offered by Delta Waves click here.

What is a sleep disorder?

A sleep disorder is a problem that disturbs your normal sleep pattern, affecting the amount of sleep you are getting and the quality of your sleep. The most common indication of a sleeping disorder is excessive daytime fatigue.

Many people do not realize they have problems during sleep rather it is their bed partner who is concerned by what they have noticed such as loud snoring, erratic breathing patterns and sudden movements.

Find out more about common sleep disorders.

What types of sleep disorders can be diagnosed at Delta Waves?

The most common sleep disorders revealed by an overnight study are:

Sleep Apnea and Other Respiratory Disorders
Snoring
Insomnia
Sleep Related Movement Disorders
Narcolepsy
Inadequate Sleep Hygiene

How do sleep disorders affect my health?

According to the National Institutes of Health, 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep loss.

Sleep is a vital part of your health and development, sleep disorders not only rob you of your quality of life but have been linked to many chronic health conditions.

The majority of sleep problems are overlooked or ignored, however untreated sleep disorders can increase the risk of or exasperate the following conditions:

Hypertension

Heart Disease and heart attack

Stroke

Depression

Diabetes

Sleep problems and sleep deficiency can also cause personal or relational issues and make you more susceptible to dangerous traffic and/or work related accidents.

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll (2002), about 51% of adult drivers say they have driven a vehicle while drowsy in the past year and 2 out of 10 people have actually noted they had fallen asleep at the wheel while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributes an average of 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses to fatigued driving each year.

Should my sleep be evaluated?

There are currently over 80 internationally classifiable sleep disorders recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Not every sleep related problem results in a sleep disorder. However, if you are waking up unrefreshed after a full night of sleep, frustrated by lack of sleep or never feel as though you are receiving the benefits of sleep, an overnight sleep study may help reveal why.

Most people who are suffering from a sleep disorder never choose to seek the help they need. The answers revealed by a sleep study may be a simple change in sleep hygiene or may reveal a serious condition that needs immediate treatment to get you on the path to peaceful and restful sleep again.

 

Pediatric Sleep Studies FAQs

What is a pediatric sleep study?

A pediatric sleep study is an overnight evaluation that will provide an accurate representation of your child’s sleep patterns and behavior.

The sleep study is a painless and non-invasive procedure that will monitor your child’s brain waves, muscle activity, heart rhythms, breathing patterns and oxygen levels throughout the night.

Delta Waves Sleep Disorder and Research Center performs pediatric sleep studies on children ages 3-18.

Our technicians are trained to help even our youngest patients feel comfortable and secure during their stay with us.
We do require that a parent or guardian accompany any child below the age of 18 for the duration of the sleep study.
Our pediatric room provides an additional bed so parents or guardians can sleep alongside the child during the test.

A pediatric sleep study is essentially the same as an adult diagnostic polysomnogram (sleep study), which helps pinpoint a diagnosis for sleep problems. During a diagnostic study, no treatment options are initiated. Your child’s sleep is simply being monitored throughout the night.

After the study, a detailed report will be sent to your child’s referring physician who will discuss the results with you.

How do I know if my child needs a sleep study?

An overnight polysomnogram (sleep study) must be ordered by your child’s referring physician as a tool to help identify what may be causing their sleep problems.

If you suspect that your child may have a sleep disorder, we recommend you talk to their family physician or a sleep specialist about your concerns.

How do I prepare my child for a sleep study?

Talk to your child about the sleep study to help them prepare. You may want to describe the stay in the sleep center as a sleepover where he will be hooked up to a set of small sensors like a robot, that will show his doctor how he sleeps at night.

Remind him that there will be no needles or pain involved, his stay in the sleep center should be a fun and exciting experience. We recommend that you and your child try to make it a fun night out together.

You can show your child pictures of our sleep center by clicking here.
Preperation for the day of the study:

Call our office to confirm your child’s appointment on the day of the study.

Maintain your child’s normal routine, including their normal naptimes.

Have your child continue taking their normal medications on the day of the study. If you have any questions about this we recommend that you talk to their physician.

Have your child shower or bathe prior to arrival at the sleep center.

Have you child eat a normal dinner prior to the sleep study.

DO NOT allow your child to drink large amounts of caffeine within 12 hours of the test. This includes caffeinated soda, coffee, tea, energy drinks and chocolate.

DO NOT allow your child to use facial lotions creams, oils, make-up or hairspray after bathing and prior to arrival at the sleep center. This will insure that the sensors have a clean connection to the skin during the hook up.

What do we need to bring?

Any items you will need to satisfy your child’s needs throughout the night and into the next morning.
Pack an overnight bag with the following:
Personal toiletries for you and your child
Two piece pajamas or t-shirt and shorts for you and your child
A camera (after hookup, your child may want to have a keepsake from the experience)
Favorite snacks (a bottle or sippy cup if your child uses one)
Medications your child uses or may need (NOTE: You will be responsible for giving any medications to your child, as the technician is not permitted to do so)
Any other comfort items that may help your child sleep such as a favorite pillow, blanket or stuffed animal.
A Favorite DVD, book or toy to keep your child entertained during the hook up process.
The bathroom facilities are public, so you may want to bring the following for you and your child:
Slippers / Shower Shoes
Robe
Bring with you the following completed forms from the patient packet that will be sent to you upon scheduling:
Patient History Form (front and back)
Bed Partner Questionnaire (if applicable)
Sleep Diary
To view / download a copy of our pediatric patient forms Click here.

How long does a sleep study last?

Plan to spend the entire night at Delta Waves.

A complete sleep study lasts a minimum of 6 hours, not including the hook up process. During that time your child will need to sleep at least 2 hours. Our patients are typically scheduled for 8pm or 10pm appointments and may be able to leave the next morning between 4am and 9am.

If you have any questions about appointment times, please feel free to call our office at (719) 262-9283.

What happens when we get there?

When you and your child arrive at the sleep center, the sleep technician that will be performing the study will greet you and take you to a private room. Each room at Delta Waves is set up like a hotel room with a comfortable bed, reading lamp, cable TV, and DVD player.

Once you have settled in, your technician will go over some paperwork and discuss your child’s sleep history with you. During this time, he will explain the sleep study process in more detail and answer any questions and address any concerns you may have.

You will then be given time to prepare your child for bed.

Once your child has prepared for bed, your technician will spend about 30-60 minutes gently hooking him up to the various sensors.
Your role as a parent or caregiver at this point is to help keep your child calm and responsive to the technician. It may be helpful to have your child watch a favorite DVD during this time.

What does the hook-up process involve?

The technician will gently place the following small sensors to prepare your child for the sleep study recording:
EEG sensors are applied to their scalp, sides of the head and under the chin to record the brain waves and muscle tone.
EEG sensors are placed next to the eyes to record eye movement which, along with brain waves, will determine what sleep stages.
Sensors are applied to the legs and chest to measure body movement and heart rate.
A small microphone will be positioned on the neck to record snoring.
A set of easy to wear elastic belts are placed around the chest and abdomen to measure breathing and which position they sleep in.
A nasal cannula and tiny temperature recording device will be placed above the upper lip to record breathing which is especially useful in patients who are be tested for respiratory disorders like sleep apnea.
Lastly, a cushioned clip is placed on a finger to record blood oxygen levels.
All of these sensors are plugged into a mobile box located by the bedside that can be taken with your child to the bathroom as needed. This box communicates to the separate control room where your technician will be monitoring your child throughout the night.

Does my child need to go to sleep right away? When is bedtime?

Our goal is to make your child’s experience at Delta Waves similar to his routine at home. We try to match our patient’s appointments 2 hours prior to the normal bedtime allowing enough time for hook up, relaxing, reading or watching TV.

Once your child is in bed, the technician will turn off the overhead light and the study will begin. You will be free to turn off the your bedside lamp when you and your child are ready. However, it is important to remember that the more sleep time your child gets during the study, the better.

What happens after the sleep study?

When your child wakes up and the study has finished, the technician will remove the sensors. Your child can go back to his normal activities right away.

After the sleep study has been completed, our sleep specialist will review and interpret the result. The sleep study findings are combined with your child’s sleep history to determine a diagnosis. The interpretation report is sent to your physician 2-5 business days following the study.

We recommend you schedule a follow up office visit with your childs referring physician to review the results.

 

Our Services / For Our Patients

How do I schedule a sleep study at Delta Waves?

In order for us to schedule a sleep study it is necessary for us to receive a referral from your physician. If you are unable to obtain a referral, or do not have a primary care physician you can call our office to schedule a consultation with our doctor who specializes in sleep medicine.

In order to facilitate your appointment as efficiently as possible we would like to request that you have your physician complete our sleep services order form and fax it to our office at 719-262-9285.
To view / download a copy of our Sleep Services Form Click here.
Alongside your referral we will also request any medical records that your physician may have that pertain to your present sleep related condition and a copy of your current insurance information.

Once our office has received your sleep services order form and the necessary medical records we will contact you to schedule your sleep study appointment.

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment please ensure that you give our office at least 48 hours notice.

To view our cancelation policy Click here.

How long does a sleep study last?

Plan to spend the entire night at Delta Waves. A complete sleep study lasts a minimum of 6 hours during that time you will need to sleep at least 2 hours.

Our patients are typically scheduled for 8pm or 10pm appointments and are free to leave the next morning between 4am and 9am. We also provide the option for you to either have a specific wake up time or allow you to sleep until the technician wakes you.

How do I prepare on the day of the sleep study?

When you schedule you will be provided with a patient packet that provides information that will help you know how to prepare for your study in more detail.

We recommend you pack an overnight bag including the following:

-Personal toiletries
-Two piece pajamas or t-shirt and shorts
-A hat or cap (your hair will be messy in the morning)
-A snack (if needed)
-All prescription medications that you take in the evening, overnight, and in the morning (if needed)
-Your favorite pillow (if desired)
-Any other comfort item that may help you sleep
-If on CPAP, please bring your mask.
-A favorite DVD, book or magazine to keep you entertained during the hook up process.

The bathroom facilities are public, so you may want to bring the following:

-Slippers /Shower shoes
-Robe

Bring with you the following completed forms from the patient packet:

-Patient History Form (front and back)
-Bed Partner Questionnaire (if applicable)
-Sleep Diary
-Insurance card
-Identification card (drivers license, military id or passport)

To view / download a copy of our patient forms click here.

We request that you DO the following on the day of your study:

-Call our office to confirm your appointment on the day of your study.
-Shower or bathe prior to arrival at the sleep center.
-Eat dinner before arriving at the sleep center.

We request that you DO NOT:

-DO NOT drink large amounts of caffeine within 12 hours of your test. This includes caffeinated soda, coffee, tea, energy drinks and chocolate.
-DO NOT use facial lotions creams, oils, make-up or hairspray prior to arrival at the sleep center. This will insure that the sensors have a clean connection to your skin during the hook up.
-DO NOT consume alcohol within 12 hours of your test.

What happens when I get there?

When you arrive at the sleep center, the sleep technician that will be performing your study will greet you and take you to your private room. Each room at Delta Waves is set up like a hotel room with a comfortable bed, reading lamp, cable TV and DVD player.

Once you have settled in your technician will go over some paperwork with you, reviewing your sleep history. During this time they will explain the sleep study process in more detail and answer any questions and address any concerns you may have.

You will then be given time to prepare for bed and change into your nightclothes.

Once you have prepared for bed your technician will spend about 30-60 minutes gently hooking you up to the various sensors. These sensors will monitor your sleep activity throughout the night.

Will the hook-up or recording be painful in any way?

No. However, patients with sensitive skin may notice mild irritation from sensor placement adhesive or after the removal process the next morning.

We request you discuss any concerns with your technician before the hook up process begins, as we want you to be able to relax as much as possible during your study. All materials involved in the hook process are latex free. There are no needles involved anywhere in the process.

How do I sleep with all those sensors and wires on?

While the sensors are painless, they may take a bit to get used to. Most of our patients have found it is surprisingly easy to sleep at Delta Waves even after the hook up. We endeavor to make your experience with us as comfortable as possible.

Do I have to go to bed right away? When is bedtime?

We desire to make your experience at Delta Waves similar to your routine at home. We try to match our patient’s appointments 2 hours prior to their normal bedtime and allow them to relax, read or watch TV after the hook up .

Once you are in bed, the technician will turn off the overhead light and the study will begin. You will be free to turn off the bedside lamp when you are ready, however it is important you remember you are here for testing and treatment, the more sleep time during the study, the better.

Will Delta Waves provide an sleep medications during my study?

No. However, if you have been taking a sleeping aide every night then you should consult with your referring physician to determine whether you should bring your medication with you to take on the night of your sleep study.

If you believe you will have difficulty adjusting to sleeping at the center you may also want to consult your physician about being prescribed a sleep aide for the night.

Do I take my normal medications before the study?

Yes. You should continue to take all your regular medications prior to and during the study if needed. If you have any other specific questions regarding your medications, we request you direct them to your primary care provider prior to the study.

Our sleep technologists cannot administer any medications or advise you about medication usage.

What if I need to go to the bathroom during the night?

At any point during the night, your technician will be available to assist you with your needs, including use of the bathroom. Simply call out in your normal voice and your technologist will come to your room. The sensors are attached to a mobile box (the size of a VHS tape) which can be easily disconnected and carried by a shoulder strap.

When will I know the results of my sleep study?

After the sleep study has been completed, our board-certified sleep physician will interpret it. The sleep study findings are combined with your sleep history to determine a diagnosis. Treatment recommendations are also included in this interpretation.

The final report is sent to your referring physician 2-5 business days following the study. We recommend you schedule a follow up office visit with your referring physician to review the results.

Will my insurance cover a sleep study?

If you are uncertain if your insurance company will cover a sleep study, we recommend that you contact them directly for verification. You may contact our office at 719-262-9283, to get information about billing codes and our in-network providers.

Click here for a list of insurance companies we are networked with.

What if I need to reschedule or cancel my appointment?

We have a cancelation policy for our sleep study patients:

If you do not give at least 48 hours notice to reschedule your appointment or if you do not show for your appointment, we will require a $100 deposit before we will reschedule. The deposit will be applied to the patient’s sleep study balance including any copays or deductibles he may owe. If the insurance company pays in full, the deposit will be refunded. If the patient does not give 48 hours notice to reschedule or no-shows again a second time, the $100 deposit will NOT be returned and we will NOT reschedule the patient a third time.

If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment please contact our scheduling department at 719-262-9283.

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