Home Sleep Test - Cost-Effective and Convenient
This post was originally posted on May 24, 2012, and updated on May 2, 2022.
One of the biggest impediments to being diagnosed with sleep apnea is the need for a sleep test. For many, going into an unfamiliar room, hooking up to a bunch of electrodes, and trying to sleep is just too much to overcome. Moreover, with the cost of a sleep test in the thousands of dollars coupled with increasing insurance deductibles, a typical sleep test might be out of reach for millions of undiagnosed sufferers. The CPAP Shop recommends taking a home sleep apnea test.
At Home Sleep Apnea Test
The most recent development in testing has the potential to be an industry game changer which can essentially open up testing for anyone at any time. After being embraced by private and governmental insurances as an alternative to a standard sleep lab test, testing for sleep apnea in the comforts of your own home is becoming more prevalent. Although not as extensive as a traditional test done in a sleep lab, home testing has been perfected. It is now widely accepted as being just as effective and accurate. The benefits of an in home sleep test are obvious:
- The kit is ships directly to you and is relatively simple to use.
- It is incredibly convenient. A person sleeps in their own bed; no doctors, no lab and just a small device that measures your pulse, breathing and brain waves.
- It is inexpensive, costing less than $500.
- The results are sent, sometimes wirelessly, directly to a physician who evaluates them
- If it is determined you suffer from sleep apnea, the physician writes you a prescription.
How Does Home Testing Work?
Get Evaluated
The CPAP Shop has partnered with Sleep Care Online, making it simple and hassle-free to get an evaluation. You can screen yourself or discuss symptoms with your doctor. Either way, it will involve filling out a simple questionnaire. One such questionnaire is the STOP-BANG questionnaire which helps identify patients at risk for sleep apnea. It consists of three categories and classifies people into either high risk or low risk based on their responses. Questions pertain to snore, snore levels, fatigue and overall tiredness. Based on this score, the doctor will be able to ascertain if you are either a high risk or low risk for sleep apnea syndrome.
See your Primary Care Physician
Your doctor will determine if a sleep test is in order after you get your evaluation. The doctor can easily order the test for you or you can take the prescription and order from your own provider. Although there are multiple home testing providers, most are similar with only slight differences in procedures and testing. Choose a provider which is most convenient for you and has received superior patient reviews.
Taking The Test
- Purchase Sleep Care Online's Complete Care Package for your Home Sleep Test
- After a survey, you will receive the NightOwl Sleep Apnea Test Device
- Follow all the instructions on how to take your sleep test in the comfort of your own bed
- Upload the results of your sleep test in the morning
After the Test
- After the test is complete, you will need to schedule a brief 15-minute telehealth visit with a board-certified sleep specialist to analyze your results
- Get a prescription for your CPAP Machine if necessary
- Connect with the sleep and CPAP experts at The CPAP Shop to set up your sleep apnea therapy equipment.
Although home testing is relatively new, it is reshaping an industry by taking a procedure that many disliked and moving it to the comfort of your own home. The benefits to the consumer are significant; comfort – you can sleep in your own bed, convenience – no trip to the sleep lab and cost – approximately 10% of the traditional sleep test. Moreover, companies are overlaying improved technology such as wireless capabilities so the data transmission is an error and hassle-free. If you have an older CPAP machine and want to upgrade or if you suspect sleep apnea, in-home testing is the wave of the future and well worth the money spent.
