Top 5 Questions About At-Home Sleep Studies – Answered July 4, 2025 If you've been waking up tired, snoring loudly, or feeling foggy during the day, you might be wondering if a sleep study could help get to the bottom of it. The good news? You don’t necessarily need to spend a night in a sleep lab hooked up to dozens of wires. At-home sleep studies are now more accessible and more advanced than ever. Here are five common questions answered to help you understand how it all works—and whether it might be the right step for you. 1. Is the at-home test accurate? Yes—very. While in-lab polysomnography (PSG) is still considered the gold standard, at-home sleep tests have come a long way. Many of the modern devices used today, like the Falcon Home Sleep Test (HST), offer up to 88.5% accuracy and 94% sensitivity when diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).1 And because you're sleeping in your own bed, the results are often more reflective of your typical sleep patterns. So, for many people, at-home testing provides reliable, comfortable, and cost-effective answers. 2. Why do I need a sleep study? A sleep study helps identify whether you have sleep apnea—a condition where your airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing to stop and start throughout the night. It’s more common than you might think: around 1 in 5 Australians suffer from OSA, and a staggering 80% remain undiagnosed.2,3 If you experience loud snoring, gasping at night, unrefreshing sleep, daytime fatigue, or trouble concentrating, a sleep study is a vital step. Untreated sleep apnea can raise your risk of serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.4 3. What is monitored during the study? The Falcon HST is one of the most sophisticated home devices available. It tracks a wide range of data, including: Oxygen levels Nasal airflow Breathing effort Snoring Body position Brain waves (EEG) Heart rhythm (ECG) Muscle tone (EMG) Eye movements (EOG) This combination gives your sleep physician a detailed view of your sleep architecture. They’ll use key metrics like your Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI)—which measures how many times your breathing is disrupted per hour—to assess whether you have sleep apnea and how severe it is. 4. How soon will I get my results? Once you return the device, a qualified Respiratory and Sleep Physician reviews your sleep data. This process usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. You’ll then receive a detailed report with a clear diagnosis and personalised treatment recommendations if needed. 5. How many hours of sleep do you need for a successful study? Ideally, Medicare requires at least 8 hours of data for a sleep study to be valid. However, results can still be interpreted if you’ve slept for at least 5 hours, provided the signals are good and consistent. If you’re experiencing ongoing tiredness, loud snoring, or any symptoms of disrupted sleep, don’t ignore it—your body might be trying to tell you something. Speak with your doctor or reach out to us at Sove CPAP to learn whether a bulk-billed, at-home sleep study is right for you. Better sleep is possible—and it starts with getting the right answers. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References Concise Digital. "Should You Do an At-Home Sleep Test or a Lab Test?" NSW CPAP, 26 Sept. 2024, www.nswcpap.com.au/blogs/cpap-latest-news/at-home-vs-lab-sleep-test-accuracy. Accessed 29 May 2025. Soenen, Stijn, et al. "Sleep Health Primary Care Clinical Resource." Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 53, no. 6, 1 June 2024, pp. 349–355, https://doi.org/10.31128/ajgp-03-23-6779. "80% of People with Sleep Apnoea Are Undiagnosed. Here's How to Tell If You Have It." Sciencefocus.com, 2024, www.sciencefocus.com/science/sleep-apnea-beat. Mitra, Amal K., et al. "Association and Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review." Diseases, vol. 9, no. 4, 2 Dec. 2021, p. 88, https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases9040088.
