Sleep Apnea Squad: Sleep Apnea Testing

What’s a sleep apnea test? The latest Apple Watch alerts users of possible sleep apnea. But what kind of doctor do you see to get tested for sleep apnea and what’s the difference between an at home versus in sleep clinic sleep apnea test? 

Project Sleep’s Sleep Apnea Program Manager, Emma Cooksey, hosted the “Sleep Apnea Testing” broadcast with featured panelists Jody Martin, a Marine Corps Veteran and business owner living with obstructive sleep apnea, and Andrea Ramberg, MS, CCSH, RPSGT, a past president of the BRPT and Clinical Director at Ensodata to discuss all the options, insurance v. paying out of pocket, and advocating for yourself and your health.

Use the buttons below to jump to the different formats of this conversation and be sure to download our Sleep Apnea Testing toolkit for more info.

Sleep Apnea Testing

If you have identified signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in yourself or a loved one, it’s time to take a sleep apnea test. Since most primary care physicians do not receive extensive training in sleep medicine, it may be necessary to advocate for yourself to get the testing you need. This can mean getting a referral to a board-certified sleep specialist or using a telehealth service.

There are two types of sleep apnea test: 

1. An in-lab study conducted at a hospital or sleep clinic
2. A home test

The sleep lab study is called a polysomnogram (PSG), and a sleep technologist usually assists with applying sensors and observing the test. Two tests can be conducted in the patient’s home: a home sleep apnea test (HSAT) or a pulse oximetry test.

Certain health conditions can rule out home testing, so consulting with a physician is an important part of the process.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)

Insurance companies in the US often dictate which kind of testing is covered by their policies. Contact your insurer with questions.

An overnight sleep study, also called an in-lab PSG or polysomnogram, is conducted at a sleep center, clinic, or hospital in rooms similar to a hotel or hospital room. A registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT) places sensors on the patient and monitors various aspects of sleep.

There are a lot of quality-of-life issues that come with having untreated sleep apnea, so part of what we’re doing in the sleep field is increasing access to care. Not everybody can go into a lab—we have rural areas where people are hours and hours away from a lab—so the home sleep study expands access to care.”

– Andrea

There are two main ways to access home sleep apnea tests. Firstly, your physician can arrange for you to pick up testing equipment, and technicians will demonstrate how to set it up at home. Alternatively, you could access a home test through an online telehealth company. In this scenario, your appointment with a doctor is conducted online, and the sleep apnea test is delivered directly to your home.

My wife found an online sleep apnea testing service through Facebook. I spoke with a representative and recall thinking, ‘Okay, they know something about sleep disorders because they asked me the right questions.’ I paid out-of-pocket to have the home testing equipment shipped to my home.”

– Jody

There are a few other tests used to assess sleep apnea.

CBCT or Cone Beam scan: This test is not used to diagnose sleep apnea, but oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and dentists use it in preparation for surgeries to treat sleep apnea.

DISE – Drug-induced sleep endoscopy: ENT surgeons use this procedure for patients exploring surgical interventions like UPPP or a hypoglossal nerve stimulation implant.

Smart watches and wearable technology: Wearables such as the Apple watch or Oura ring cannot currently diagnose sleep apnea, but they can notify users to talk to a physician and seek testing.

Unfortunately, many doctors lack education about sleep medicine, so if your primary care physician doesn’t take your concern seriously or isn’t familiar with sleep apnea testing, you can contact Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline for personalized support and help finding a sleep center to contact directly.

Download the Sleep Apnea Testing toolkit for more information on this topic!

Sleep Apnea Testing: Listen or Watch!

The Sleep Apnea Testing broadcast originally aired on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

Meet Our Guests:

Jody Martin is a husband, Marine Corps veteran, and business owner. He lives in Texas with his wife of 30 years, Rachel. In 2019, Jody underwent testing in a sleep clinic and received a diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea. After a difficult start to CPAP therapy, Jody abandoned it.

Later, when he tried to get help, he was told he would have to go through the entire process again, starting with his primary care doctor. It was a process he was unwilling to repeat. That was until he discovered Lofta, an online sleep apnea home testing company, and was able to go through testing, diagnosis, and getting set up on CPAP therapy entirely from home and with the support of Lofta staff. Jody is passionate about sharing his journey to encourage other people living with undiagnosed sleep apnea to learn about their testing options and get the testing, diagnosis, and treatment they need.

Andrea Ramberg MS, CCSH, RPSGT, has spent 16 years in sleep medicine, learning every component of polysomnography, from clinical to administrative. She is double credentialed with her RPSGT and CCSH and holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.  Andrea is EnsoData’s Clinical Director, and she joined the team in 2020 because of her passion for bringing Sleep Medicine into the future. From 2021-2023, Andrea served as President of the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, BRPT, and her goal is to empower sleep technologists in new roles through the CCSH credential as Sleep Coaches, Sleep Educators, and Sleep Navigators. 

Resources

Here are resources discussed in the toolkit and some of our other favorites. We look forward to hearing what our fellow Squad members find most useful for navigating sleep apnea!

Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline

Project Sleep’s Sleep Helpline™ is a nonprofit-led free national helpline providing personalized support and resources for people facing sleep issues and sleep disorders.

Project Sleep’s live broadcast series Sleep Apnea Squad takes a deeper dive into specific topics related to sleep apnea. Hosted by Emma Cooksey, each live event invites fellow members of the #SleepApneaSquad to explore various aspects of living with sleep apnea.

Tune in to Sleep Apnea Squad live events on Project Sleep’s YouTube channel. See the schedule of upcoming topics on our Sleep Apnea Squad page.

More Sleep Apnea Squad Topics