Is there an alternative sleep apnea diagnosis method besides an overnight sleep study?

Yes: The gold standard is a overnight sleep study in a lab. There are now approved home study devices that are approved for use. They do not collect as much information as a formal study in the lab, but can be used as a screening method and for those patients that can not spend the night in the lab for various reasons.

No: An overnight sleep test is necessary to diagnose sleep apnea. It is best to have it done in a sleep center with a sleep technician present the whole night. However, in order to cut costs, many insurance companies are starting to cover home sleep tests. Home sleep tests can be appropriate for certain patient populations when obstructive sleep apnea is the only suspected diagnosis.

No: There is no substitute for a polysomnogram. While home sleep study units are great in screening, they are not a substitute. The data gathered is insufficient, but very effective in screening. Home sleep studies can be a great first step in a diagnosis, but a polysomnogram is still needed.