AFCH Overnight Sleep Study

An overnight sleep study is a test done in the hospital to see how much or how well your child sleeps. The study checks your child’s breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels and body movements during sleep. It helps your doctor decide what, if any, equipment your child needs to get a better night’s sleep.

What to Bring

• Comfort items such as pillows, blankets or toys.

• A two-piece pajama set (without feet) and a pair of socks.

• If your child uses a pacifier, bring different sizes in case one works better with the equipment.

• Bring any medicine, equipment and supplies your child may need. We provide meals for your child during the study.

• If your child is on a ventilator, bring both ventilators, circuits, and connections to humidity.

• If your child uses CPAP or BIPAP, bring all masks, tubing, and the CPAP or BIPAP machine. We use your child’s home equipment during the test

• If there are things that help calm and distract your child like a DVD, iPad or other toys, bring these with. It may take 30-60 minutes to get all the equipment on your child for the sleep study.

• Please avoid tight braids, hair pieces, hair weaves or hair oils. They can make it hard to put electrodes on the scalp.
  

Where to Go
We will admit your child to the hospital the afternoon of the sleep study. Come to the American Family Children’s Hospital at 4:00 pm. There is valet parking at the front entrance. Then, find the Guest Depot on the first floor. If your child is already in the hospital, the sleep study is done in their room.

Day of the Test
One parent or caregiver needs to stay with your child overnight and help with the sleep study. If a parent or caregiver is not present, we cannot do the sleep study. Only one parent or caregiver can stay in the room. Other children cannot stay overnight. Please have other family members sleep at home or with relatives or friends during the test .

You may be asked to wake up a few times during the night to help. You may be tired the day after the study. Plan ahead if you have a long drive home the next day.

If needed, The Ronald McDonald House provides housing for families whose kids are in the American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH). Call the AFCH Guest Depot at 608-890-8000 to arrange for your first stay at the house. If you have stayed there before, you can call the house directly at 608-232-4660. There is no cost to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, but if you are able, they ask for a $10.00 donation per night.

The doctors and nurses on the unit will ask you about your child’s medical history and do a physical exam. The pharmacist will talk to you about the medicines your child takes. A respiratory therapist will check your home equipment.

During the Sleep Study
A sleep technician will hook up your child to the monitors and sensors that are part of the sleep study. They tell us about the stages of sleep and whether sleep is being disturbed. None of these are painful. There are no needles. The sensors include:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) or brain wave

• Electromyogram (EMG) monitors

• Sensors placed at the nose and mouth measure the flow of air in and out of the lungs.

• Belts around the chest sense your child’s breathing effort.

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) measures heart rate.

• A sensor attached to a finger or toe (pulse oximeter) measures oxygen levels.

• There will most likely be another EMG monitor attached to your child’s legs to measure movements.

• A microphone is placed to detect snoring.

• A video camera allows the sleep tech to watch your child during sleep. The camera will record any unusual behaviors during sleep.
  

You can help distract your child while these sensors are being placed. If your child does not like the sensors being put on, the tech will try to attach them after your child has fallen asleep.

The sleep tech will be outside your door checking your child during the night. There may be times they need to wake you for help. The nurse may also need to come in and help.

The respiratory therapist may need to connect your child to new equipment or change settings for better sleep.

Unless you have been given other instructions, the sleep study ends around 6 am. The nurse, pharmacist and doctor will need to see your child before you go home. We plan on discharge early in the morning.

Results
A sleep doctor looks at the results of the sleep study the next day. The pulmonologist gives you the results of the sleep study within a week after the study. If you have questions about the results of the sleep study, contact the doctor who ordered the test. If you have other health questions, contact your child’s primary care doctor.

When to Call
Call if you have any questions about the sleep study.

If you can’t make your visit, please let us know at least 5 days before the study. We don’t have a lot of open times for sleep studies, so keep your visit if you can. The sooner you let us know, the more likely we can give the time to someone else. Reasons to cancel or reschedule a sleep study include:

• Fever greater than 100.5°F

• Major cough

• Nasal congestion

• Major illness.
  

If your child gets sick, contact the Pediatric Pulmonary nurse as soon as you can.

Who to Call
AFCH Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic
Monday-Friday, 8 am- 4:30 pm
608-263-6420 or 800-824-8924, Option 2
After hours, nights, weekends and holidays, please phone the AFCH paging operator at 608-263-6420 and ask for the pediatric pulmonologist on call.