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What Does An At-Home Sleep Study Measure?

May 27, 2025

Feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep you get? Snoring heavily, or been told you stop breathing during the night? You might be showing signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — a common but serious condition that can now be assessed from the comfort of your own home.1

Thanks to modern technology, you may not need to spend the night in a lab or hospital. An at-home sleep study offers a simple, comfortable, and effective way to evaluate your sleep health.

What Is an At-Home Sleep Study?

An at-home sleep study is a more convenient version of a full in-lab test (called a polysomnography). While streamlined, it still collects key data needed to diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep-related conditions. The study monitors your breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, movements, and even some brain, eye, and muscle activity as you sleep.

What to Expect During the Test

Before your study, you’ll have a quick appointment at a sleep clinic. A trained technician will fit you with a portable monitor and attach a few small, non-invasive sensors to your body. These include:

  • EEG electrodes (electroencephalogram): Placed on your forehead and temples to track brain waves. This helps determine when you fall asleep, how deeply you sleep, and whether you go through all sleep stages (including REM).
  • EOG electrodes (electrooculogram): Placed near your eyes to monitor eye movement — important for identifying REM (dream) sleep.
  • EMG electrodes (electromyogram): Positioned on the jaw to track muscle tone and jaw movements during sleep.
  • ECG electrodes (electrocardiogram): Attached to the chest to monitor heart rate and rhythm throughout the night — helping detect any irregularities linked to disrupted breathing.
  • Nasal cannula: A soft tube beneath your nose that detects airflow, helping to spot snoring and breathing pauses.
  • Effort belts: Elastic bands around your chest and abdomen that track your breathing movements and effort.
  • Pulse oximeter: A clip on your fingertip that continuously measures your blood oxygen levels — a key indicator of sleep disruption due to apnea.

Once the setup is complete, you’ll take the equipment home and sleep in your own bed. The next day, you return the device and your results are reviewed by a sleep specialist.

What Do the Results Show?

One of the measurements is the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) — the number of times per hour your breathing completely or partially stops.2 Here’s how it’s classified:

  • 5–15: Mild sleep apnea
  • 15–30: Moderate
  • Over 30: Severe

Your doctor will also review your Oxygen Desaturation Index — how often and how much your blood oxygen levels drop during sleep.3 When combined with airflow data, breathing effort, and muscle movements, these results help build a full picture of your sleep quality.

Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep

If you’re feeling constantly tired, snore loudly, or wake up frequently during the night, don’t ignore it. These may be signs of sleep apnea — and an at-home sleep study is a safe, simple first step.

Speak to your GP today about booking a bulk-billed at-home sleep study with Sove CPAP Clinic. Better sleep, better health, and brighter mornings could be just around the corner.

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

1. Rundo, Jessica Vensel. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea Basics.” Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, vol. 86, no. 9 suppl 1, 1 Sept. 2019, pp. 2–9, www.ccjm.org/content/86/9_suppl_1/2.long, https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.86.s1.02.

2. Veugen, Christianne C. A. F. M., et al. “Prediction of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Comparative Performance of Three Screening Instruments on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index and the Oxygen Desaturation Index.” Sleep and Breathing, vol. 25, no. 3, 24 Oct. 2020, pp. 1267–1275, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02219-6.

3. Kong, Deqiu, et al. “Oxygen Desaturation Index, Lowest Arterial Oxygen Saturation and Time Spent below 90% Oxygen Saturation as Diagnostic Markers for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” American Journal of Translational Research, vol. 15, no. 5, 15 May 2023, p. 3597, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10250969/.