First things first before you take a sleep apnea test - check with your medical health insurance. Inquire if they cover doctor's fees and clinical diagnosis for sleep apnea. Some medical insurance have specific requirements or only cover some stages of the diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is not a one-step procedure. You might need to undergo several procedures or be referred to several doctors depending on your condition.
It all starts at home
Conducting a simple sleep apnea test can start with yourself. You can search for online tests. It contains sets of questions you can answer to initially verify if you have the condition. A major symptom of this sleep disorder is loud snoring with pauses in breathing while asleep. If you are experiencing this, then it's time to see your doctor.
Consult with your doctor
Typically, a sleep apnea test will start with your primary doctor. Initial diagnosis will be based on personal and family medical history of sleep apnea. Ask your parents or immediate relatives if they know anybody in your family who has it. Sleep apnea is a condition that usually runs in the family. The doctor will typically ask about your usual sleeping time, sleeping habits and how you perform during the day. It would help to keep a journal of your sleeping habits before you visit the doctor. During this time, try to know about how loudly and often you snore. Most sufferers are unaware that they snore and have breathing pauses. It would help to ask a family member or bed partner. Some people even video tape themselves during sleep to witness the snoring first-hand.
After getting your medical history, your doctor will need to do a physical examination. You throat will be checked if you have enlarged tonsils and adenoids. You will also be checked for large tissues that might be blocking your air passages. Others have small jaws or have an obstruction in the nasal passage. For children, a family medical history and a physical examination may be enough to confirm the sleep disorder. For adults however, symptoms might be more complicated. Most are referred to a sleep clinic for a more comprehensive sleep apnea test.
Being referred to a sleep specialist
Your primary doctor will be the one to decide if you need to be referred to a specialist. These specialists would include a pulmonologist, a lung expert, to examine your breathing. A neurologist, specializing in the human brain, can help in the treatment of central sleep apnea. It is caused by a failure of the brain to connect with breathing muscles. Otolaryngologists can help if your disorder is caused by an obstruction in the air passages. For a more comprehensive testing and confirmation of your condition, you can be referred to a sleep clinic.
Inside a sleep clinic
A sleep clinic is where a sleep apnea test is conducted and symptoms can be diagnosed. It provides an accurate test for sleep apnea. A sleep study is usually done overnight with a test called polysomnogram. Before you go to bed, sensors will be attached to your scalp, chest, face, limbs and fingers. These sensors will record brain activity, muscle activity, eye movement and breathing rate. It will additionally measure blood pressure and the amount of oxygen in the blood. All these will be done while you are sleeping so diagnosis is basically painless. Sleep clinics can deliver accurate results so that your sleep doctor can recommend the most effective treatment. The only problem with a sleep clinic is the cost of diagnosis. The cost can reach thousands of dollars. However, this sleep test can be covered by medical insurance.
Home sleep tests
Not all sleep apnea tests are that costly. An alternative is a home sleep test which costs relatively lesser. It usually has a portable monitor that records the same information in a polysomnogram. It can be delivered to your home and it comes with instructions. Most people prefer a home-bases sleep apnea test because they can sleep at the comfort of their own bed.