Some sleep problems cannot be fully explained by a questionnaire or a basic breathing monitor. When your symptoms are complex, atypical, or have persisted despite initial treatment, an in-lab polysomnography provides your sleep physician with the most comprehensive picture available, monitoring everything from brain wave activity and breathing patterns to oxygen levels, heart rate, and muscle movement simultaneously throughout an entire night of sleep.
At Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep, our sleep studies are performed in our own private, fully equipped sleep suites by experienced sleep technologists, with results interpreted by our board-certified sleep medicine physicians. We have been diagnosing and treating sleep disorders for patients across Gwinnett County and the greater Atlanta area since 1983.
What Is a Polysomnography Test?
Polysomnography, commonly referred to as a PSG or in-lab sleep study, is a comprehensive overnight diagnostic test that records multiple physiological parameters simultaneously while you sleep. It is the gold standard for diagnosing a wide range of sleep disorders and provides a level of detail that no home-based test can replicate.
During a polysomnography test, small sensors are placed on the scalp, face, chest, abdomen, and legs to continuously monitor:
- Brain wave activity (EEG) — identifies sleep stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep, and detects abnormal brain activity during sleep
- Eye movements (EOG) — used alongside EEG to confirm REM sleep and identify REM-related disorders
- Muscle activity (EMG) — detects limb movements, teeth grinding, and REM sleep behavior disorder
- Airflow — measures the presence and severity of breathing interruptions including apnea and hypopnea events
- Respiratory effort — distinguishes obstructive from central breathing events
- Oxygen saturation (SpO2) — tracks blood oxygen levels and desaturation patterns throughout the night
- Heart rate and rhythm (ECG) — monitors cardiovascular response to sleep-disordered breathing events
- Body position — identifies whether sleep position influences breathing or other parameters
The resulting dataset, which can span over 800 pages of recorded data, is reviewed and interpreted by one of our board-certified sleep physicians, who uses the findings to confirm a diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan.
When Is an In-Lab Sleep Study Recommended?
While an at-home sleep study is appropriate for many patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea, in-lab polysomnography is the recommended approach when a more comprehensive evaluation is needed. Your sleep physician may recommend a PSG if you:
- Have symptoms suggesting a sleep disorder beyond obstructive sleep apnea, such as narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, parasomnia, or periodic limb movement disorder
- Have significant comorbidities such as moderate-to-severe COPD, congestive heart failure, or neuromuscular disease that require closer overnight monitoring
- Have had an inconclusive or negative home sleep test despite strong clinical suspicion of sleep apnea
- Are being evaluated for central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea syndrome
- Experience unusual sleep behaviors, including sleepwalking, sleep talking, acting out dreams, or unexplained nighttime movements
- Struggle with excessive daytime sleepiness that has not been explained by a home test
- Need a titration study to calibrate CPAP or BiPAP pressure settings under direct clinical supervision
If you are unsure which type of sleep study is right for your symptoms, a sleep consultation is the appropriate first step. Our physicians will recommend the most accurate and efficient testing pathway for your individual presentation.
What Conditions Does Polysomnography Diagnose?
In-lab sleep studies are used to evaluate, diagnose, and stage the severity of a wide range of sleep conditions, including:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Repeated partial or complete airway collapse during sleep causing breathing interruptions, oxygen desaturation, and fragmented sleep architecture.
Central Sleep Apnea
Breathing pauses caused by a failure of the brain’s respiratory signaling rather than airway obstruction — requiring the comprehensive monitoring that in-lab testing provides.
Narcolepsy
A neurological condition causing uncontrollable daytime sleepiness and sudden muscle weakness, diagnosed through a polysomnography followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) the following morning.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
A condition in which the normal muscle paralysis of REM sleep is absent, causing patients to physically act out their dreams — detectable only through in-lab muscle activity monitoring.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
Repetitive limb movements during sleep that disrupt sleep continuity, quantified through leg EMG monitoring during polysomnography.
Parasomnias
Abnormal sleep behaviors including sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and confusional arousals that require full-night monitoring across sleep stages to characterize accurately.
Insomnia With Suspected Underlying Causes
When insomnia is associated with abnormal sleep architecture or suspected comorbid sleep disorders, in-lab monitoring provides objective data that symptom reporting cannot.
What to Expect at Your Sleep Study
Our Sleep Suites
Your comfort matters, and an uncomfortable testing environment affects results. Our sleep studies are conducted in private, quiet rooms designed to support natural sleep as closely as possible. Each sleep suite is equipped with a Sleep Number bed or Tempur-Pedic mattress with reclining function, a television with DirecTV, and a full private bathroom with shower. You are welcome to bring your own pillow, pajamas, or any items that help you sleep comfortably.
Before Your Study
Your sleep physician or care team will provide specific preparation instructions ahead of your appointment. In general:
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol on the day of your study, as both affect sleep architecture and can alter results
- Wash your hair and avoid applying hair products, oils, or lotions; sensors need clean skin and scalp to adhere properly
- Continue your regular medications unless your physician specifically advises otherwise
- Arrive at your scheduled check-in time with your overnight essentials
During Your Study
Upon arrival, your sleep technologist will introduce themselves, walk you through the setup process, and answer any questions before the study begins. Sensors are applied to your scalp, face, chest, abdomen, and legs using a gentle adhesive. The process is entirely painless. Flexible elastic belts are positioned around your chest and abdomen to measure respiratory effort, and a small pulse oximeter clip is placed on your fingertip or earlobe to monitor oxygen saturation.
Once the sensors are in place, you will be free to watch television, read, or relax before lights out. The sleep technologist monitors your data from an adjacent room throughout the entire night and can assist you at any time. Most studies last six to eight hours. Day studies are also available for patients who work night shifts, including the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.
After Your Study
Sensors are removed after the study, and you are free to shower and leave. You will receive your results and a final report within five business days. Your sleep physician will then review the findings with you, confirm your diagnosis, and develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include CPAP therapy, BiPAP, Inspire therapy, or other interventions based on your results.
How Much Does a Polysomnography Test Cost?
Polysomnography is covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans when ordered with a supporting clinical indication. Out-of-pocket costs vary depending on your coverage, deductible, and the specific study performed. Our team will verify your insurance benefits before your study is scheduled and walk you through any expected costs so you can plan accordingly.
Schedule Your Polysomnography Sleep Study in Gwinnett County
If your sleep symptoms have gone unexplained, if a previous home test was inconclusive, or if you have been referred for a comprehensive overnight evaluation, our team is ready to help. At Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep, we combine advanced diagnostic technology with a comfortable, patient-centered sleep environment to give you the clearest possible picture of your sleep health.
Call our office to schedule an appointment, or request one online at our sleep centers in Gwinnett County and the Atlanta Metro area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a polysomnography and a home sleep study?
A home sleep study measures airflow, oxygen saturation, and respiratory effort, the parameters needed to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. Polysomnography monitors all of those parameters plus brain wave activity, eye movements, and limb movements, making it more comprehensive and appropriate for complex or atypical presentations, or when conditions beyond obstructive sleep apnea are suspected.
How long does a polysomnography test take?
Most sleep studies last six to eight hours. You will be asked to arrive at a scheduled check-in time, and you are free to leave after sensors are removed the following morning.
Is a polysomnography test painful?
No. Sensors are applied to the scalp and skin using a gentle adhesive and are completely painless. The elastic belts around the chest and abdomen and the pulse oximeter clip are non-invasive and designed to be as unobtrusive as possible during sleep.
Where does Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep perform sleep studies?
Sleep studies are performed in our own private sleep suites equipped with Sleep Number or Tempur-Pedic mattresses, televisions with DirecTV, and full private bathrooms with showers. Day studies are also available for night-shift workers.
How much does a polysomnography test cost?
Costs vary depending on your insurance coverage and the specific study ordered. Polysomnography is covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans when there is a supporting clinical indication. Our team will verify your benefits and provide an estimate of any out-of-pocket costs before your study is scheduled.
When will I receive my polysomnography results?
A final report is typically available within five business days of your study. Your sleep physician will review the findings with you and discuss your diagnosis and treatment options at a follow-up appointment.
Do I need a referral for a polysomnography sleep study?
A physician’s order is required before a sleep study can be performed. You can schedule a sleep consultation at Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep directly — without an external referral — and your physician will determine whether an in-lab study is the appropriate next step.
Can I take my medications the night of my sleep study?
In most cases, yes, continue your regular medications unless your sleep physician specifically advises otherwise. Avoid caffeine and alcohol on the day of your study, as both can affect sleep architecture and alter results.
What happens after my sleep study results come back?
Your sleep physician reviews the findings with you and develops a personalized treatment plan based on your diagnosis and the severity of your condition. Depending on your results, this may include CPAP, BiPAP, or APAP therapy, Inspire evaluation, or other interventions tailored to your clinical profile.