Full polysomnography sleep study

What is polysomnography?

Polysomnography is a sleep study that measures your child’s sleep and breathing patterns. It is usually performed to try and find out if someone is breathing normally when asleep or to investigate events that happen during sleep.

What does the study involve?

You will be welcomed to the Sleep House and shown to your bedroom. After settling in, a member of staff will go through some paperwork with you. Once your child is ready for bed, staff will attach the following sensors to your child before their normal bedtime:

• 7 electrodes will be glued to your child’s scalp to measure their sleep patterns
• 6 stickers will be put on your child’s face and 4 stickers on your child’s legs to measure movement
• A soft probe wrapped around your child’s toe will measure the oxygen levels
• 2 stickers on your child’s chest to measure heart rate
• A warm sensor that is stuck onto the chest or earlobe to measure carbon dioxide levels
• A sensor on your child’s neck will record snoring
• 2 soft stretchy bands around the chest and tummy to measure the effort of breathing
• A small body position sensor which sits on top of the stretchy bands to measure body position
• 1 or 2 sensors which sit just above the upper lip to measure the air breathed in and out

It may take up to 60 minutes to apply all the sensors.

After these have been attached, staff will check the signals are working and you will both be left to settle and go to sleep. Overnight staff will monitor the signals on a computer screen and also video your child with your written consent. Staff may come in overnight to reattach sensors if signals are lost.

How long does it take?

It only lasts 1 night, and you and your child can go home first thing the next day.

Are there any risks?

These sensors are not painful, however some children and young people may find it upsetting to have these sensors attached. We will work closely with you and your child to successfully apply these sensors.

What happens afterwards?

When your child wakes up and the study has finished, the sleep staff will remove your child’s sensors. We will then discharge you home promptly. The latest you can leave the sleep house is 7.30am. Your child can then go about their day as normal.

When will I get the results?

The sleep physiology staff will pass the data onto the sleep and respiratory team.

The sleep and respiratory consultant will then look at the results and they will be discussed either at your next clinic appointment or the results will be sent to the referring doctor.