Sleep Disorders Center

Diagnostic Procedures

As Philadelphia's first sleep disorder center, the Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center offers unmatched experience and a full complement of procedures for diagnosis and treatment.

• Polysomnography, the simultaneous and continuous monitoring of physiological activity during sleep. The most commonly performed type is nocturnal polysomnography, also referred to as a "sleep study"
• Polysomnography with oxygen administration, which helps establish whether the use of oxygen can assist in treating various pulmonary conditions during sleep
• Polysomnography with an extended EEG montage, which can detect nocturnal seizures
• Polysomnography with penile plethysmography, which assists in the evaluation of impotence
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration, which we use to determine the proper settings for CPAP treatment
• Daytime multiple sleep latency testing (MSLT) or maintenance of wakefulness testing (MWT) is used in the diagnosis of narcolepsy and helps to quantify daytime somnolence

Treatment Options

After your evaluation with the Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center, our team may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Continuous or bi-level positive airway pressure (CPAP or BiPAP) administration to treat sleep apnea syndrome
• Oxygen therapy, during which you breathe oxygen from a tank to treat other pulmonary disorders during sleep
• Oral appliances (dental devices) to wear while you sleep to help your airway stay open for the treatment of sleep apnea syndrome and snoring
• Laser-assisted uvuloplasty and other surgical procedures to alleviate obstruction of your upper airway during sleep
• Weight reduction techniques including behavior modification, diet and exercise and bariatric surgery
• Medication including stimulants, hypnotics (sleeping pills), respiratory stimulants and antidepressants to alleviate factors that may contribute to sleep disorders
• Chronotherapy to facilitate adjustment of a new sleep/wake schedule, whether earlier or later, as necessary
• Phototherapy ("bright light therapy") to correct delayed or advanced sleep phase disorders, so you are better able to go to bed and fall asleep at a relatively normal time in the evening, and able to wake up and get out of bed at a normal time the next day
• Relaxation training including techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation and deep-breathing methods to help you reduce stress, anxiety and body tension
• Sleep hygiene education including information on how to modify certain lifestyle factors, including diet, in order to sleep better
• Sleep restriction, a program that first allows only a few hours of sleep during the night, gradually increasing sleep time until a more normal night's sleep is achieved.