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You have been referred for assessment of your sleep patterns at the request of the referring doctor. It is advisable that someone else drives you to and from the hospital each time you attend. The clinical scientist will explain the wiring up and recording process when you attend for your appointment. The clinical scientist will provide you with a camera and instructions on how to set this up once you return home. Please ensure that the camera is placed so that it is able to see your whole body during sleep. There are also a few basic additional instructions for your overnight recording.

• You should aim to get a good night sleep, so we would like you to avoid any stimulating activities that may keep you awake such as vigorous activity, caffeine, smoking, using electronic devices late at night, unusual exposures to bright sunlight etc. You can eat normally but please avoid eating very late at night.

• Please do not go to sleep or get into bed before the time agreed with the Clinical Scientist. Please ensure that the room you sleep in is dark and free of noise/interruptions before you go to sleep. The video camera uses infra-red light; therefore, there is no need to keep the room lights on. If you need to go to the toilet in the night, this is fine.

• Please do not get the equipment wet.

• Please wake up by 7:30am. You will then need to return to the hospital for 8:30am. Please avoid all of the above stimulants. The physiologist will want to know in the morning how you slept and if you can recall any episodes of sleep-related behaviours such as nightmares, sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep terrors etc. Please tell them what you are able to.

The clinical scientist will then remove some of the breathing sensors, keeping the ones attached to your head to measure your sleepiness throughout the day.  

Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) information for patients

You must wake up at 7:30am or before. Please return to the department for 8:30am. You will then be shown to a room, which will be yours for the day, until all nap opportunities are complete, and the sensors removed. You must be prepared to stay until 4pm. At 9am, after being awake for at least 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will begin the next part of the test. This test involves trying to take 4 naps at 2-hour intervals.  

To begin the test, the physiologist will instruct you to lay down in the quiet and darkened room and try to sleep for 30 minutes. Please remain in bed attempting to sleep for the whole 30 minutes, even if you do not fall asleep. The physiologist will wake you up after the 30 minutes. Upon awakening, please vacate your bed, and do not sleep, for the next 1 hour 30 minutes. The process is repeated another 3 times at 2 hourly intervals. Please see the schedule below: 
 
Wake time = 7:30am 

Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT)

Nap number	Start time	End time
Nap 1	9am	9:30am
Nap 2	11am	11:30am
Nap 3	1pm	1:30pm
Nap 4	3pm	3:30pm

 
Please ensure you set your phone to silent, so that it doesn’t disturb you during your naps.

The following instructions must be adhered to throughout the day:

• You must remain in bed trying to sleep during the nap times.

• You are only allowed on the bed during the specified nap times.

• Vigorous physical activity should be avoided during the day and any stimulating activities should end at least 15 minutes prior to each nap opportunity.

• Smoking is to be stopped at least 30 minutes prior to each nap opportunity.

• Caffeinated beverages are to be avoided.

• Unusual exposures to bright sunlight are to be avoided.

• You should visit the bathroom prior to your nap test, if required.

The 1 hour 30-minute gap in between nap times is your own, so please bring drinks, food (packed lunch), cash for lunch at the hospital restaurant and anything else you may like to keep you entertained during this time (books, tablets, laptops, etc). Please note that there is no terrestrial TV in the room where you will be having your MSLTs performed; however, there is a DVD player, if you wish to bring your own DVDs. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide food/drinks in the department. If you leave the department during the periods where you are not napping, please ensure you return to the department with plenty of time to spare before your next nap.

After the 4 naps, the physiologist will remove all of the remaining sensors. This should take approximately 15 minutes, and then you will be free to leave. 

The clinical scientist will not be able to give you results straight away, and these will go back to the doctor who asked for the test.

Sleep well,

The Neurophysiology Team