Since OSA is a serious medical condition, it must be diagnosed by a qualified sleep physician.. Factors such as patient evaluation and history can give some indication of an OSA condition, but a definitive diagnosis is most often based on the results of an overnight sleep study called a Polysomnogram (PSG). These studies are most often performed at a hospital or independent sleep lab, but home testing options are also available.
The PSG test measures the frequency and duration of pauses in breathing, which is expressed as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI). An AHI score of 20 would indicate that the sleeper experiences an average of 20 apnea interruptions per hour during sleep. An AHI score of less than 15 is considered “mild,” 15 to 30 is considered “moderate” and an AHO of 30 or above is classified as “severe.”
Dr Suh works with qualified sleep medicine physicians and sleep labs, and can make the appropriate referrals for consultations and sleep studies through the Hudson Sleep & TMJ Center.