Sleep Apnea - Exams and Tests

SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS

Your doctor will examine you and ask you and possibly your sleeping partner questions about your lifestyle, snoring, sleep behavior, and how tired you feel during the day (this is called a medical history). Your doctor may ask you to complete a questionnaire, such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The answers to questions in this questionnaire can help the doctor find out if you have sleep apnea. If your doctor thinks that you may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), he or she may suggest sleep studies or other tests.

Sleep studies are a series of tests that record what happens to your body during sleep. The most important test for sleep apnea is polysomnography. This test records electrical activity of your brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing, airflow through your nose and mouth, and blood oxygen levels (saturation). Polysomnography is the only sure way to find out whether you have sleep apnea. For more information, see:
Sleep apnea: Should I have a sleep study to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea?

Other tests that you may have include:

Blood tests to check for hypothyroidism (TSH test) or a high red blood cell count (complete blood count).
Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) or echocardiogram to see if sleep apnea has affected your heart.

If your sleep apnea has not improved after initial treatment, and if enlarged tissues in your mouth and throat are causing it, your doctor may do one or more tests before suggesting surgery to remove the excess tissue. These tests may include:

Fiber-optic pharyngoscopy, to see whether your airway is too narrow or collapses during breathing.
A CT scan of the head to look for an overly large tongue and excessive soft tissue in the neck, as well as to locate the narrowest part of your airway.
X-rays. A cephalometric X-ray is a type of head X-ray that allows your doctor to see bone deformities of the skull. This type of X-ray test may not be available in every hospital.

To diagnose sleep apnea in children, doctors follow similar steps. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:⁶

During a routine checkup, your doctor will ask you and your child about snoring. If your child snores, be sure to tell your doctor.
A complete sleep study generally is needed to tell if your child has sleep apnea and is not just snoring.
Children who have sleep apnea and who also have genetic disorders, lung disease, sickle cell disease, disorders of the head or face, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, facial disorders, or severe heart or lung problems should see a specialist.

You may need sleep tests after your treatment begins, to see how well it is working.

Treatment Overview

By:	Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: July 9, 2009
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Mark A. Rasmus, MD - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine

1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Article
Ready to Run? How to Get off the Couch -- and Keep Going!
News Article
Alcoholics Who Smoke May Face Early Brain Aging
News Article
College Women More Prone to Problem Drinking Than Men: Study
Article
3 Easy Yoga Moves to Calm Your Midday Stress Outs
Article
Friend or Frenemy? How to Know It's Time to Break Up with a Friend
News Article
Heart Attack? Doctors Soon May Have an App for That

See All News

iVillage

Sleep Apnea - Exams and Tests

SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS