Search
Close this search box.

Sleep Study

Counting sheep not working? NMC Health can help get to the bottom of why you're not getting much sleep with a sleep study conducted by our sleep medicine experts.

birdseye view of white man sleeping with cpap respirator over his nose for sleep medicine

Get better sleep with the help of NMC Health

Are you struggling to get a good night’s sleep? Many Americans struggle to get the recommended eight hours of sleep each night for many reasons. Some of those reasons are preventable. A sleep study can help pinpoint what might be causing you to have trouble catching Z’s.

Get to feeling better at NMC Health’s Sleep Disorders Center.  

A lack of sleep and restlessness can lead to a higher risk of many other health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

If you aren’t getting quality rest and think you may have a sleep disorder or treatable sleep issue, let us help.

Accredited by the American Academy for Sleep Medicine, the center is designed to provide a quiet environment for evaluating symptoms of sleep disorders like:

  • Insomnia
  • Excessive Snoring and sleep apnea
  • Fatigue
  • Inappropriate “dozing off” during normal activities (like driving or working)

A sleep study is used to learn more about your sleep habits and track symptoms of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the NMC Health Medical Center Emergency Department.

How it works

A full sleep-oriented history and a physical exam will be completed as you prepare for your testing at the Sleep Disorders Center. This may include a daytime or overnight stay at our state-of-the-art facility.

During your sleep study

You’ll find the private room soothing and relaxing as you sleep, even though you’re away from home.

When you arrive, you’ll be hooked up to a non-invasive electrode machine that will monitor your sleep quality. This test will help diagnose whether you have a sleep disorder and determine what type of treatment may work for you.

After your sleep study

After your results come back, you’ll sit down with your doctor to determine whether or not you need treatment or therapy for any sleep disorders.

Some therapies include the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, which is a mask you wear while sleeping to provide additional air pressure. You’ll use this if you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.

If you experience narcolepsy, you may be prescribed medicine to help you stay awake during the day. The therapy and treatment that best suits your needs will be determined by your doctor.

How to prepare for a sleep study

You will need a referral from your doctor to undergo testing. You may be referred by your primary care provider or call the Sleep Disorders Center to get help with a referral.

When you arrive, you’ll be asked to follow your normal routine as closely as possible. Here’s a list of what to bring to your sleep study:

  • Comfortable pajamas
  • Your nightly hygiene products
  • Clean change of clothes for the morning
  • A book or something to pass the time until you go to sleep

As you check in, your sleep technologist will ask you questions about your sleeping habits. You will be escorted to your private room to settle in before being hooked up to the sleep study machine. The machine includes several electrodes that will be individually placed around your head and legs to check your movement and monitor sleep quality. Despite being connected to several wires, most patients find the setup quite comfortable and easy to sleep with.

FAQs

With a referral from your doctor, your sleep study and any potential sleep equipment you may need should be covered under insurance. Each plan is unique, so make sure to ask your insurance provider if your plan is covered. They’ll be able to answer any questions about out-of-pocked costs. 

If you are paying out of pocket see what options are available through our partnership with MDsave.

A sleep study can help pinpoint difficulties in sleeping. It can help determine whether you have obstructive sleep apnea or any sleep disorders that can impact your quality of sleep. When your doctor knows what might be wrong with your sleep cycles, he or she can find a better treatment plan. That means you’re on the road to getting better sleep!

When you are having a sleeping study, you should bring things like: 

  • A pair of pajamas
  • Entertainment (like a book or magazine)
  • Your own pillow (if you’d like)
  • A laptop (if you want to use it)


Be sure to leave any expensive jewelry or personal items at home. Your room will also have cable TV for you to watch during your stay.

Your spouse is more than welcome to attend all your appointments and drop you off at the Sleep Disorders Center for your sleep study. However, they will not be able to spend the night with you. Because of how the sleep study is performed, it might be distracting for both you and your spouse and the quality of sleep may not be accurate should they attend.

There are some cases in which you might be woken up by the sleep study tech during your overnight sleep study. If you experience several sleep events, the tech may wake you and hook you up to a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which is high flow oxygen that should keep your airways open while sleeping. It is used to treat patients with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which you stop breathing while you’re sleeping.

Yes. In order to get a sleep study done at NMC Health Sleep Disorders Center, you will need to speak with your doctor and get a referral from your family doctor. If you need help obtaining a referral, call our office.

Skip to content