We receive referrals from sleep physicians, Ear Nose & Throat surgeons, medical practitioners, dentists and other health professionals for patients for the following:
- Problems related to the social consequences of snoring
- Treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea
- Treatment of severe sleep apnea where the patient is unable or unwilling to use the CPAP machine
SleepWise Clinic can also provide you with patient education materials for treatment of sleep apnea and dental sleep appliances.
Accurate sleep studies for your patients can now be done at home
Traditionally sleep studies for the diagnosis of sleep apnea were done during an overnight stay in a hospital. Over the last few years the equipment that has been used in hospitals to assess sleep has been miniaturised and can be used in your home with great accuracy and comfort. A sleep study done at home replicates your patient’s usual sleep in their usual environment and allows for a great deal of confidence in the results.
Why is a sleep study important?
Sleep apnea is the most common condition diagnosed by a sleep test. Over 60% of people who regularly snore have some degree of sleep apnea with most unaware they have it. Many people mistakenly believe that just because they are not aware of it, or no one has observed problems, that they don’t have sleep apnea.
It is important to know whether your patient has sleep apnea because it is a significant cause of tiredness as well as elevated blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
The sleep test will not only determine whether sleep apnea is present but also establish the severity. It is important to know the severity as this is a factor in determining the type of treatment required to ensure a successful outcome. Other sleep disorders which can be diagnosed are restless leg syndrome and insomnia.
What is a sleep study?
A sleep study is the monitoring of your sleep for the diagnosis of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Simple sensors record breathing, snoring, oxygen levels, brain activity, cardiac activity, body position and body movements.
What are the indications for a sleep study?
If your patient snores, wakes feeling unrefreshed, or is somewhat sleepy during the day they could well have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. While you might suspect they have sleep apnea, the only way it can be diagnosed is by an overnight sleep study.
Indications for a sleep study include:
- Snoring which disturbs others sleeping close by
- Sleepiness
- Disturbed sleep
- Going to the bathroom during the night
- Waking up unrefreshed
- Waking up with a dry or sore throat
- High blood pressure (or on medication)
- Depressed or anxious
- Sexual dysfunction
What is best – in the hospital or in the home?
Sleep studies have traditionally been done in a hospital.  Advances in technology have made it possible to have an accurate sleep study in the comfort of a patients own home. The equipment used is the same as in the hospital however the results may be more meaningful as it records your usual sleep in your natural environment.
How does my patient get connected for the home sleep test?
A sleep technician will provide easy to follow instructions on how to attach the device and sensors just before you go to bed. Alternatively we can connect the sensors for your patient at our clinic and all they are then required to do is start the recording when they are ready to go to bed.
How do I get the results?
The patient’s results are analysed by highly qualified and experienced sleep scientists. Respiratory and sleep physician, Dr David Cunnington, then reports each test and makes appropriate treatment recommendations.
