What do they do during a pediatric sleep study?

My 3 year old son is doing one in a couple of days because I think he has sleep apnea. They want us there at 2:30 in the afternoon. What do they do between then and bedtime, just lay in the hospital bed? I am trying to determine how necessary this really is, as I reallly dont want him to have to undergo any surgeries later (they didnt work for his father). What was your experience? Thanks!

Electrodes and wires are usually attached to the head, face, chest, arms and legs. These electrodes can record brain waves, eye movement,facial tension, heart rate, respiratory rate and limb movement. A flow sensor is also placed on the nose to sense respiratory flow/effort.

Some of the things looked for include:

time takes to fall asleep
time to reach rem sleep
depth of sleep achieved
how easy to arouse
respiratory effort: does the child attempt to breath but some-
thing blocks the effort or is there no attempt made
limb movement that may arouse child
etc.

The patient is usually hooked up and allowed to fall asleep as usual. They may allow him to listen to music, watch tv or be read to for a while.

Others have mentioned studies for Narcolepsy but that is a different type of diagnostic tool. The test for narcolepsy is a Multi sleep latency test. ( A Nap study). It sees how quickly someone can fall asleep. It's a little different from a polysomnogram (Sleep study) but is similar as far as the actual test procedure itself.

I'm a Respiratory therapist who has just so happened to have had a few sleep studies myself. I had obstructive sleep apnea as a child and had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed. I was just diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea again and am currently using CPAP as treatment. I also have restless leg syndrome and a circadian rhythm disorder ( sleep wake cycle is messed up!) I just always thought I was naturally a "night owl" I can, however, vividly remember the waking up "paralyzed" as a child during my apnea episodes or waking up choking. I currently snore so loudly now, that I sometimes wake myself up during an apnea episode.

So, please allow the test to be done, even if you decided not to go the surgery route. The test will help you make a better informed decision.

Good luck!

they want you there early so his behaviors prior to bedtime can be monitored, he will be watched constantly for the behaviors that add to the diagnosis. As for surgical procedures in regards to sleep apnea, they only work about 50% of the time in the general population, but there are other things that can be done. If the surgery didn't work for dad, then dad may want to look into cpap therapy. It is really very effective.

I have narcolepsy & my daughter was just checked for this as well with a sleep study. There is a lot of prep for this....they attach a bunch of wires to your head & hook you up to a little box & machine that will monitor your brain waves during sleep & while awake. They will not allow him to sleep through the entire night, they will wake him up periodically & they will also try to have him take "naps" to see how quickly he is able to fall asleep & if it is a deep sleep or not, if he reaches the REM phase etc. I believe the test for narcolepsy is identical to the one for sleep apnea. It is painless, but the wires are very cumbersome & difficult to get comfortable to sleep with in the first place. I stayed in the room with my daughter & slept in a chair bed for the evening as she didn't want to be left there alone. The hospital said I had to stay with her anyways because she was under age. She didn't want me to leave her anyway so I was planning to stay either way. Good luck to you! Let your son know that it will be an adventure & that he gets to look like a space alien for a night....maybe that will help to calm him down a little. Bring him some coloring books & things to keep him occupied....it's a long night & he will need things to do or he will become very bored.