An underlying sleep disorder can rob you of energy, lower your cognitive function, and reduce your overall quality of life. If you’re not sleeping well or have excessive daytime sleepiness, you may be a candidate for the nap studies and home sleep studies we offer at Integrated Neurology Services PLLC.
Our experienced medical team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.
Our goal is to improve your quality of sleep, so you can feel your best. We also offer strategies you can use to prevent health complications that sleep disorders can cause.
A nap study, or multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), takes place during the daytime hours to measure your alertness and level of sleepiness. It also measures how quickly you fall asleep during the day.
Our medical team uses nap study results to diagnose disorders like narcolepsy, a neurological condition that causes excessive sleepiness and involuntary episodes of falling asleep.
During a nap study, we attach sensors to your face, chin, and head. The sensors transmit information about your eye and chin movements, brain waves, and heart rhythm to a computer.
You lie quietly in a dark room while the sensors collect data about your vital signs and your ability to fall asleep. If you fall asleep, our providers wake you after a 15-minute nap. If you can’t sleep within 20 minutes, testing ends.
A home sleep study uses sensors to monitor several aspects of your health throughout the night while you’re sleeping, including:
This type of study allows you the opportunity to drift off to sleep in the comfort of your own bed while our team collects data about your health and body movements. This information helps us identify the cause of moderate to severe sleep problems and confirm a diagnosis of insomnia, sleep apnea, or restless leg syndrome.
Nap studies can provide important information about your sleep quality, but they aren’t as detailed as an in-home or in-lab sleep study.
Our physicians may initially recommend a nap study to better understand aspects of your sleep stages if you have mild or occasional sleep-related issues like daytime sleepiness or snoring.
If a nap study doesn’t provide enough details about your sleep, our team discusses the need for an in-home sleep study. We may also suggest an in-home study first if you have moderate to severe sleep disruptions that interfere with your health or quality of life.
Following your study, we help you make the most informed decisions about any needed treatment. Our personalized plans for a sleep disorder may include prescription medications, lifestyle changes, and behavioral therapy that support consistent sleep.
Call your nearest Integrated Neurology Services PLLC office today to learn more about the benefits of nap studies and in-home sleep studies. We have two locations in Alexandria and one each in Lorton and Falls Church, Virginia. You can also use the online feature to request an appointment.
