Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can only be diagnosed by a physician and after the patient has had a sleep study. There are two types of sleep studies:
- Polysomnogram (in lab sleep study)
- Out of Center Sleep Study (Home Sleep Test)
Historically, in lab sleep studies were the gold standard and they still are considered the “best data”. Many insurance companies are now dictating physicians to utilize home sleep studies first due to their ease, affordability, and accuracy. Because of this increased use, the home sleep tests have made great strides. Dr. Klauer explains it like this often, “in lab sleep tests have more accurate data but you’re sleeping in a foreign environment. Home sleep tests can have less accurate data but more normal sleep as you are at home.” A home sleep test is almost always a great first step to get a better understanding of what may be going on at night and, without testing, you can never truly know your quality of sleep, diagnostically speaking. Once you see our providers for a comprehensive evaluation, we can help direct you towards the best test for your situation, as each have their unique limitations.
