The Night of Your Sleep Study

How to Prepare for Your Sleep Study

  • On the day of the sleep study, you should follow your habitual routine way of life. Do not drink coffee, tea, or alcohol more than usual.

  • Bring all the medications & list that you regularly use. Follow your regular medication schedule unless instructed otherwise. We only have tap water available at the lab, please consider bringing water if you need to take your medication while at our clinic.

  • Please do not use hair accessories/treatments such as gel, hair spray, mousse, or oils on your hair when you come for your sleep study.

  • Please do not use moisturizers and creams on your face prior to the sleep study.

What to Expect on the Night of Your Sleep Study

Please plan to arrive at the clinic between 8:00-8:30 pm on the night of your sleep study.

On your sleep study appointment info sheet, you will have been given the buzzer code and the instructions on how to enter the building, along with evening staff contact information. If you have misplaced this information, please contact our administrative office (during administrative office hours) prior to the night of your sleep study.

Please be prepared to fill out questionnaires.

  • You will spend the night in a comfortable and private room.

  • A sleep technician will position dime-sized electrodes at various spots on the body to continuously record brain waves, muscle activity, heart rate, and eye movements. These monitoring devices are not uncomfortable and will not restrict your ability to move around during the night.

  • In all our rooms, we have video cameras that record only your sleep study. The purpose of these cameras is to record your sleeping position during the night and determine if it impacts your sleep issues, and to record any abnormal behaviors during sleep. If the recording is unremarkable, it is deleted once your study has been scored.

  • Wake-up time is generally at 6 a.m., you will be free to leave the clinic between 6:30 – 7:00 a.m. If you require a daytime assessment you will stay in the clinic the next morning with the electrodes still in place. Testing should end at approximately 4:00 p.m., but in some cases, may last up to 5:30 p.m., at which time you will be free to leave.

  • We advise patients to put away their electronic devices at the time of lights-out, as phones and screens can affect ability to fall asleep and is not conducive to good sleep hygiene.

  • The Sleep and Alertness Clinic is committed to providing a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all patients and staff. Abusive language or behavior will not be tolerated.

What to Bring on the Night of Your Sleep Study

  • Your valid health card.

  • Your medication and medication list.

  • Food/snacks and water as needed.

  • CPAP mask and tube for CPAP titration sleep study (if applicable).

  • Dental device or positional device for oral/positional test (if applicable).

  • Please bring pajamas, a pair of slippers, and your personal hygiene accessories such as toothpaste and toothbrush as needed.

  • Showers are available for use. Please bring your own towels if you plan to use our facilities.

    • A gel-like residue will be left in the places where the electrodes were attached (e.g., on scalp, forehead, chin).

    • You may wish to bring a head covering if you are taking public transit. Please consider using hair conditioner first on the area, then shampoo, to better remove the gel-like residue.

  • If you are having a day test, you will have some time between testing sessions. It is recommended that you bring a book or laptop to fill some of the time between testing sessions.

What Not to Bring to Your Sleep Study

  • Please do not bring any pillows or bed linen. These items will be provided to you.

  • E-cigarettes are not permitted.

  • Please leave all valuables (e.g., jewelry, credit cards) at home.

  • Wi-fi is available, please speak to one of our night staff for more information.

  • Please take care of your personal belongings.

**Sleep and Alertness Clinic is NOT responsible for any loss or damage.

Other Important Information

Meals

We do not provide meals, for your convenience we have a small kitchenette with a microwave, kettle, and refrigerator. Please bring food and snacks for yourself, especially if you are doing a day test.


Parking

If you wish to drive, there is a public parking behind our medical building at Toronto General Hospital on 201 Elizabeth Street which is 2 streets west of Bay/College with the sign “Hospital Parking”. This is a paid parking lot, from 6pm-8am it is $9, which is enough time to cover for your overnight sleep study. If you are doing a day study or extended sleep the maximum is $35 which will cover both overnight sleep study and day study.


Follow-up

  • After your sleep study, the results will be analyzed, and a written report will be sent to your referring physician.

  • A follow-up appointment, to discuss the results, will be scheduled with one of our sleep specialists.