If you suspect you have sleep apnea, there are several tests available to help your physician diagnose the condition and determine the best treatment option. The first step is a standard office visit with an otolaryngologist who will perform an examination of the nose and throat to identify signs of narrowing or obstruction and determine the severity of your snoring and/or apnea.

How to Get a Sleep Apnea Test in Ohio

Your doctor may then recommend a home sleep apnea test or a supervised overnight sleep study. These tests monitor your breathing, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and other vital signs during sleep to assess for obstructive sleep apnea. The supervised overnight sleep study is called polysomnography and is considered the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. During the test, you arrive at a sleep center during the night (weeknights and weekends are usually available) and you sleep in a room similar to a hotel room with several monitors that capture data on your muscle movement, brain waves for sleep, breathing effort, snoring, heart rate, and other vital signs.

Home sleep apnea tests are more convenient than a full overnight sleep study and provide useful information, but are not meant to replace the diagnostic procedure. These tests are not for screening asymptomatic populations and should only be used with the direct supervision of a physician who can evaluate your results in a face-to-face consultation (in person or via telemedicine) and provide a diagnosis or assessment of treatment efficacy.