Sleep Studies & CPAP Titration in Pretoria

Comprehensive overnight polysomnography to diagnose sleep disorders, understand the root causes of poor sleep, and guide effective treatment.

What is a Sleep Study (Polysomnography)?

Clinical sleep studies, also known as polysomnography, are comprehensive overnight tests used to diagnose sleep disorders. During a sleep study, patients stay overnight in a sleep lab where technicians monitor and record a range of physiological activities while the patient sleeps.

The sleep study provides detailed, second-by-second analysis that cannot be replicated by home sleep monitoring devices. While it may seem unfamiliar to sleep wired up in a lab environment, clinical sleep studies are extremely valuable for understanding the root causes of poor sleep and guiding the right treatment.

What We Monitor

During your sleep study, sensors monitor a range of physiological activity, including:

Brain waves (EEG)
Eye movements
Muscle activity
Heart rate
Breathing patterns
Blood oxygen levels
Leg movements

What to Expect

Video and audio recordings may also be taken to capture any unusual behaviour during sleep.

Before: You will fill out forms detailing your medical history and current medications. You may be asked to avoid caffeine or alcohol for a period before the test.
During: Try to maintain your normal sleeping habits as much as possible. Go to bed at your usual time and avoid stimulants that could disrupt sleep. Do not change any medications without first consulting your doctor.
After: The data collected will be analysed by our neurophysiologist, who will consider factors including age, gender, and medical history to produce an accurate diagnostic report.

CPAP Titration

A CPAP titration involves sleeping with a mask that delivers pressurised air through your nose or mouth to keep your airways open. This prevents the collapse of soft tissues in the throat that cause breathing problems during sleep.

Common Sleep Disorders We Diagnose

Insomnia – difficulty falling or staying asleep, with daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – recurrent pauses in breathing due to airway obstruction, with snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Central sleep apnea (CSA) – the brain fails to send appropriate signals to the breathing muscles, disrupting breathing patterns.
Secondary CSA – often linked to conditions such as congestive heart failure, certain medications, or high-altitude environments.
Narcolepsy – a neurological disorder causing excessive daytime sleepiness, vivid dreams, and sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy).
Periodic Leg Movements of Sleep (PLMS) – rhythmic leg movements during sleep with leg cramps and daytime fatigue.
Circadian rhythm disorders – sleep-wake cycle disturbances causing trouble initiating or maintaining sleep.
REM sleep behaviour disorders – abnormal behaviour during REM sleep, including talking, shouting, or moving while asleep.

The goal of CPAP titration is to find the optimal pressure setting for each patient and assess the reduction in apnea events. You will be fitted with a CPAP mask and educated on how the machine works, sleeping with it for one or more nights — most people find it relatively comfortable after a few nights. Afterward, our neurophysiologist reviews the data to determine whether any adjustments are needed to your pressure settings or treatment approach.

Struggling with sleep? We can help.

Book a Sleep Study