- Penn otorhinolaryngologists work closely with experts at the Penn Sleep Center to evaluate and diagnose those with mild, moderate and severe sleep apnea. Before diagnosing sleep apnea, sleep medicine physicians at the Penn Sleep Center will try to determine if there is something else that is causing your sleep problems, including:
- Another type of sleep disorder
- An underlying medical condition
- Medications
- A mental health disorder
- A substance abuse problem
After a full evaluation and assessment has been made, our sleep specialists will perform one or more diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact cause of your sleep apnea in order to implement the best possible treatment method.
Diagnostic tests and evaluations include:
Home Sleep Apnea Test
If sleep apnea is suspected, you may be given a home sleep apnea test to diagnose your condition. This involves sleeping at home while wearing specialized equipment that monitors how you breathe during sleep. The device collects information that will be used to diagnose your sleep apnea. You will be given instructions on how to set up the equipment yourself. The at-home device will have sensors that measure your breathing, oxygen levels and heart rate during sleep.
If in-home testing indicates that you have sleep apnea, then a Penn sleep specialist will discuss a treatment plan. In cases where another medical issue could be contributing to symptoms, your physician may recommend an in-lab sleep study.
Sleep Diary
You may also be asked to keep a sleep diary for up to two weeks. The diary should include information on what time you went to bed each night, how many times you woke up throughout the night, and what time you woke up in the morning. This is important to pinpoint patterns in sleep, which will aid in diagnosing your sleep disorder.
Our sleep specialists will recommend home sleep apnea testing if:
- You have symptoms that indicate you have moderate to severe sleep apnea.
- You do not have a medical condition other than the possibility of sleep apnea that could be causing your symptoms.
You will not be prescribed an at-home sleep apnea test if:
- You are not considered high risk for sleep apnea
- You have another medical condition that could be causing your symptoms including:
- Pulmonary disease
- A neuromuscular disorder
- Congestive heart failure
In-Lab Sleep Studies
An in-lab sleep study will provide a more in-depth assessment of your condition to pinpoint the cause of the sleep disturbance.
Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)
Surgical treatment for severe sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is based on accurately identifying airway obstruction. Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is an advanced diagnostic tool that allows physicians to pinpoint the exact site of obstruction within the airway in patients with OSA. Using these findings, Penn physicians can tailor surgical treatment to meet an individual’s specific needs. All candidates for surgical treatment require DISE first.
During the procedure, you will receive a sedative administered by an anesthesiologist. While you are sleeping, a thin flexible endoscope is passed through one side of the nose and down the throat to look for potential blockages in the palate and tongue regions. Possible candidates for treatments such as trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) and hypoglossal nerve stimulator will need to have DISE first.
Polysomnogram (sleep study)
A polysomnogram is a sleep study that can be conducted in a lab or at home to diagnose sleep apnea. For in lab sleep studies, individuals will be seen at the Penn Sleep Center where board certified Sleep Medicine physicians will attach sensors to the face and scalp. The polysomnogram monitors and records brain waves, oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate, breathing and eye and limb movements while you sleep.
Our sleep team will evaluate the information gathered and score your sleep study according to their findings. A diagnosis can then be made and a treatment plan developed.