Your clinician decides which test to order, but the conversation goes faster when you know what each test can and cannot show. Tick the statements that apply, then read the matching notes.
The tool only sorts your own answers; it is not a diagnosis. The underlying rule of thumb comes from the home sleep test vs in-lab study comparison: a home test is usually the practical first step when uncomplicated obstructive sleep apnea is suspected, and an in-lab study is more likely when the picture is complex, another disorder may be present or a home test was inconclusive.
| Home sleep apnea test | In-lab polysomnography | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Your own bed, usually one night | A private room at a sleep centre, hospital or set-up hotel room |
| Signals | Breathing, oxygen level, heart rate, sometimes position or movement | Breathing plus brain activity and sleep stages, movement and more |
| Who is present | Nobody; results reviewed afterwards | A sleep technologist throughout the night |
| Weak spot | May underestimate events or produce an unusable recording | Less convenient and more expensive |
MedlinePlus notes that a home study may be possible when the main concern is sleep apnea, and can involve one night, sometimes two, wearing a monitoring device. For a lab study a technician places electrodes on the chin, scalp and outer edge of the eyelids, with monitors for heart rate and breathing on the chest.
The night itself is described step by step in what to expect at a sleep study.
Price depends on test type, facility and your deductible, and an advertised cash price may not include interpretation or equipment. Ask for a written estimate listing the test, interpretation, equipment, facility charges and any deposit; the breakdown of how much a sleep study costs lists the questions to put to your insurer. To compare listed sleep practices by state, use Sleep Clinic Guide.