Diagnosis
How do you know if you have a sleep disorder?
The diagnosis of a sleep disorder involves several steps. In the first instance a doctor would do a full assessment including asking several questionnaire-based questions and doing a questionnaire-based assessment on symptoms of sleep disorder. In the second instance one will need to have a sleep study, this is usually done in hospital and sleep study is polysonography, measures a variety of parameters including brain waves, eye movement, air flow, oxygen and heart rate overnight and muscle movement. By using all this data gathered we're able to analyse a person's sleep, stage their sleep in other words, when they sleep in the different stages of sleep and find out whether they have any breathing problems in their sleep, movement disorders or neurological problems in their sleep.
Can you be unaware you have a sleep disorder?
Sleep disorders tend to be underreported by people at large. One of the reasons for that is because of a lack of education or awareness about sleep disorders or symptoms of sleep disorders. In a second instance, people with sleep apnea for example, might not think they have a sleep disorder because they have no problem falling asleep anywhere. So it is in these instances where the people around them might make them aware of having a sleep disorder or symptoms of a sleep disorder.
How difficult is it to diagnose a sleep disorder?
Once one has done a thorough assessment and done a sleep study, it is relatively simple to diagnose because the criteria for the different sleep disorders is now well laid out in the international classification of sleep disorders.
What should people do if they think they have a sleep disorder?
If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder the most important thing is to be able to obtain appropriate help, in a timely manner. Ask your GP about the symptoms of sleep disorders, and also look on websites.
