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Test
Since people with sleep apnea may complain of any number of sleep-related symptoms, including excessive daytime sleepiness, your doctor can order a range of tests to look for possible causes of those symptoms.
 
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American Sleep Apnea Association(ASAA): This site is a source of information and a community for sufferers of sleep apnea. ASAA hosts a forum with live chats, a geographical listing of support groups in the U.S. and Canada and specific guidance for parents with children who have the disease. |
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MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Find an extended definition of sleep apnea in this medical encyclopedia provided by the National Institutes of Health. MedlinePlus provides a separate directory of links to sleep apnea news, diagnosis, treatment, and research from government agencies and associations.
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National Sleep Foundation (NSF): After explaining the basics of sleep apnea, the NSF's "Sleeptionary" features sections on coping and links to articles. NSF also covers symptoms and treatment of sleep apnea in children. |
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health, includes sections on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep apnea. It outlines who is at risk, how to live with the condition, and how to help those who may have it. |
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ClinicalTrials.gov: The National Institutes of Health maintains this research database of federally and privately supported clinical trials. It includes the purpose, eligibility criteria, and location for each study. |
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SleepEducation.com: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine offers tools for evaluating sleep, including a true-false questionnaire and a sample sleep diary. The sleep apnea page walks patients through a series of points to help determine if they have sleep apnea, whether they need to see a sleep specialist, what to tell their doctor, and how their condition may be treated. Don't overlook additional resources, such as sleep apnea case studies or suggestions for sleep hygiene. |
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Your doctor may order lab tests, including those to test for medicines that are known to affect the level of alertness.
Your doctor may do a physical exam of your nose, mouth, and throat, looking for large or extra tissues that might be blocking the flow of air. Your doctor may also ask you how well you sleep and how well you function during the day.
Your doctor may want you to have an overnight sleep study, in which you spend the night in a sleep lab while instruments record data on your sleep and other bodily functions.
This section contains more information on:
Sleep study
Sleep study preparation
Other sleep tests
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