How Will a Sleep Doctor Help Me?

The type of doctor to see for sleep problems depends on what condition is causing the problems. In general, people experiencing issues with sleep consult a sleep doctor. Sleep doctors can evaluate, diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent disorders that impact an individual’s quality of sleep. Often coming from different medical backgrounds, a physician is considered a sleep doctor after they have completed advanced training and specialization in the field of sleep medicine. Sleep doctors with different medical backgrounds may have more experience treating certain sleep disorders. For example, because dentists have a detailed understanding of the anatomy of the mouth and jaw, they are better suited to treat sleep apnea and TMJ disorders than other professionals.

While it is normal to experience sleep problems on occasion, if they occur regularly, it may be time to speak with a doctor about sleep disorders. Visit a sleep doctor if you:

– Have a hard time falling asleep
– Have trouble staying asleep
– Wake up throughout the night
– Experience daytime fatigue on a regular basis, even after getting more than 7 hours of sleep
– Have trouble performing simple tasks
– Snore loudly, especially if it disrupts others
– Nod off or fall asleep while driving
– Have trouble staying awake when inactive, such as when watching TV or reading a book
– Find it difficult to concentrate at work
– Have performance problems at work or school
– Often hear others say you look tired
– Have difficulty remembering things
– Have slowed responses
– Have difficulty controlling emotions
– Feel the need to take naps daily

Sleep clinics are specialized medical practices that help people diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent disorders that affect sleep. Initially, patients will have a discussion with a sleep doctor about their symptoms and any challenges they face as a result of their sleeping problems. Another important part of the diagnostic process is reviewing medical history to rule out other causes and develop an understanding of possible complications. Diagnosing the underlying cause of a sleep disorder can be a lengthy process as sleep is a complex function that involves many different systems and bodily processes. After a diagnosis has been made, the sleep doctor will start working on developing a treatment plan that appropriately addresses the patient’s condition while using a customized approach to meet their unique needs.

Sleep specialists will ask a lot of questions as part of the discovery process; the subject matter of the questions and the number of questions they ask will be unique in every situation and heavily depend on the condition they are treating or the symptoms they are diagnosing.

In relation to snoring, they may ask:

– Is it heard outside the bedroom?
– In what sleeping position is it worst? (back, stomach, left side, right side)
– Do others complain about it?
– How often does it occur?
– Do you wake up with a headache? If so, where is it located?
– For sleep apnea, they may ask:
– Has anyone witnessed an apneic episode?
– How long did it last?
– How often did it occur?
– Do you experience multiple nocturnal awakenings?
– What caused it?
– When did they occur?
– How many times a night?

Discover the amazing benefits of having a sleep doctor at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders. We believe that every person has the right to receive quality, restful sleep every night and are proud to help patients realize this right across the United States. We look forward to serving you!