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FAQ

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY PATIENTS

 I sleep very poorly. How do I go about getting a sleep study done at your clinic?

  You need to be referred by a doctor who thinks that you may have a sleep disorder. He or she will fill in our referral form available on our HOME page.

  •  Can I refer myself for a sleep study?
    •   All our services are funded by OHIP and so you cannot request to have a sleep study done and pay for it yourself. Your family doctor or specialist must send us a referral. There are some exceptions however. If you have had two sleep studies over the past 12 month period, you may have a sleep study and pay for it yourself or make a claim from your private insurance company if you have coverage. You may also have a sleep study done in your home at your own cost. We can provide further information on this service if you are interested.
  • Who can I bring with me for the overnight study?
    •   If you are a child aged 13 or under, you MUST be accompanied to the sleep study by a parent or guardian. If you are between 13 and 16 you may be accompanied if you would feel more comfortable. If you have a medical condition that requires a care taker, and if it has been discussed with our office, then you should be accompanied to the sleep study. If you have difficulties with communication (speaking, hearing, speaking English) you should be accompanied to the early part of the evening while the technician is attaching the wires and getting you ready for bed. If you have no issues, you may not be accompanied to the study for any reason.
  •  Can I have a technician who is the same gender as me?
    •   If you have concerns about being set up and monitored by a technician who is of a different gender to you, please express your concerns prior to your study by contacting our office. We will try very hard to accommodate your concerns.
  •  What if I arrive late for my sleep study?
    •   Patients are asked to arrive at 7.45pm at all three of our locations. If you have not arrived fifteen minutes after the appointment time, your appointment will be cancelled. However, if you have made arrangements to arrive late, your bed will be held for you. There is a deposit payable for this service of $150 which is held on a credit card and fully refundable to you when you arrive for your appointment. If you do not arrive for your sleep study, this amount will be charged to your card. If we are unable to fill the bed with another patient, you may be responsible for covering the full cost of the sleep study.
  • What if I have to cancel my appointment at short notice?
    •   There is a $125 charge for cancellations within 24 hours. This is non-negotiable. Please contact the HAMILTON ACADEMY OF MEDICINE if you have a question about this policy. There are a few exceptions to this policy such as flu, or other serious issues. Please contact our office if you are ill. See our cancellation policy for further details.
  •  I routinely take a sleeping pill or sleeping aid. Can I take one on the night of my sleep study?
    •   We encourage you to bring ALL MEDICATIONS to your sleep study. You will be able to take any sleeping medications or aids that you usually take before bed time. Do not take the medication prior to your arrival at The Sleep Disorders Clinic.
  • Can I drink alcohol prior to my sleep study?
    •   We encourage you to keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum on the day of your sleep study. We want you to keep to your usual routine but not to over-consume and you must be safe to drive. If you arrive at The Sleep Disorders Clinic intoxicated you will be sent home by taxi at your own expense. You will also be billed as a late cancellation and may be responsible for the full cost of the sleep study.
  • Do I need to bring my own pillow?
    •   NO. We no longer allow any personal items to be brought in to our Hamilton and St Catharines laboratories to prevent the spread of bedbugs. This policy is strictly enforced. If you bring personal items you will be asked to leave them in your car or they will be bagged and kept for you until you leave the laboratory. You will be provided a pillow and pyjamas. If you require a special pillow please make arrangements with reception prior to your appointment. We have a selection of special pillows available. if you are coming to our CMH lab you will need to bring your own pillows and pajamas.
  •  Do the technicians watch me while I am sleeping?
    •   Yes. All patients are watched while they are sleeping to observe unusual behaviours during sleep. You will be digitally recorded at night so that the doctor who is interpreting the sleep study can observe you for any abnormal behaviours or movements while you were asleep.
  •  How long do I wait for my results?
    •   Results of your sleep study are sent to your family doctor or the referring doctor within four weeks.
  •  What if I have sleep apnea that needs to be treated?
    •   You will see a doctor in consultation at the clinic at which you had your overnight appointment. He or she will recommend treatment options and if CPAP is recommended you will come for a repeat overnight study, this time using a CPAP machine. The CPAP machine will correct your breathing while you are sleeping.
  •  Do I need to have a repeat sleep study or CPAP study every year?
    •   No. Unless you are having symptoms such as snoring, apneas or daytime fatigue, or your doctor thinks you may have developed a different sleep disorder, there is no need to repeat the sleep study once you are stable on treatment. Doing a routine study, on a yearly basis, is seldom medically necessary and should not be done.
  •  Will I see a sleep doctor after my sleep test?
    •   You will always have an appointment with one of our sleep physicians who will go over the results of your sleep test, and all options for treatment.
  •  I have heard that all patients get put on CPAP after a sleep study. Is CPAP the only treatment for apnea?
    •   Many patients who are referred to the Sleep Disorders Clinic have sleep apnea but not all of them. CPAP is the “Gold Standard” of treatment for sleep apnea in that it is very effective in controlling apnea in most patients, and should be trialled as a form of treatment for all patients with moderate or severe apnea. For milder apnea or those who cannot tolerate the machine, there are other more conservative methods of treatment. See under TREATMENT in the FOR PATIENTS section for alternative treatments for apnea. You will be offered alternatives to CPAP if they are suitable for you.
  • I am not sure if using CPAP is right for me. Do I have to buy the machine before I meet with the doctor?
    •   Some patients know immediately once they use CPAP that it is the correct form of therapy for them. For these patients purchasing a machine allows them to get the machine