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If you struggle to fall asleep at night, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of U.S. adults say they typically don’t get enough sleep[1].
Unfortunately, this lack of shut-eye is correlated with serious chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Skimping on sleep can also result in car crashes, reduced immune system function and poor work performance.
If you’re having chronic sleep-related issues, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, muscle weakness, moodiness or daytime drowsiness, your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist. Here’s how to choose the right one for you.
Consult A Sleep Medicine Specilaist
Visit with a sleep medicine specialist to evaluate your sleep issues, discuss various sleep options and more, including an at-home sleep study.
What Is a Sleep Specialist?
After completing medical school, a doctor pursuing a sub-specialty in sleep medicine must first enter a medical residency in a specialty, such as internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, neurology, family medicine, otolaryngology or anesthesiology. Then, they complete a one-year sleep medicine fellowship consisting of clinical training and research where they learn to diagnose, manage and treat sleep disorders.
Types of Sleep Specialists
There are several types of sleep specialists, and finding one that’s right for you depends on what types of problems you’re having, says Michael Grandner, Ph. D., a behavioral sleep medicine specialist and director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Sleep physicians are medical doctors with additional training who are board-certified in sleep medicine, says Dr. Grandner. They’ve completed medical school, residency and an additional sleep fellowship before completing their board exam. “They conduct sleep studies in the lab or at home to diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders and may prescribe medications and medical devices like CPAP machines,” says Dr. Grandner.
Behavioral sleep medicine specialists are usually clinical psychologists but can include anyone licensed to work in the mental health field who has received extra training in sleep disorders and is board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine, says Dr. Grandner.
“Clinical psychologists with this credential have completed their graduate training and internship and have either received training from an accredited training program or obtained at least 500 supervised hours after licensure in behavioral sleep medicine,” he adds.
Instead of prescribing medications, behavioral sleep medicine specialists typically use behavioral or cognitive therapies to treat sleep disorders, says Dr. Grandner. While they can diagnose and treat a wide range of sleep disorders, insomnia is usually their focus.
Sleep technologists are sleep professionals who conduct overnight sleep studies in the lab and work with patients to help them learn how to use their CPAP machines, explains Dr. Grandner. They typically need to pass an exam and be registered, but they might not have an advanced degree or license, he adds.
Respiratory therapists with training in sleep medicine are also common. These professionals often help people manage their sleep apnea therapies, says Dr. Grandner.
Sleep nurses are nurses or nurse practitioners with special training in sleep who may or may not be board-certified, says Dr. Grandner. They usually work under the supervision of a sleep physician or behavioral sleep medicine specialist.
Check out doctors in your area
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When Should You See a Sleep Specialist?
If your sleep doesn’t feel restorative or refreshing on a regular basis, it’s time to see a sleep specialist, says Abhinav Singh, M.D., the medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center in Greenwood, Indiana, and a medical review expert for the Sleep Foundation. “Poor sleep is like a check engine light for your health,” he says. “If you ignore it, something bad is going to happen.”
If you’ve already tried to remedy your sleep problems with behavioral changes and you’re still struggling to fall and stay asleep—or you wake up feeling like you’re dragging—a sleep doctor can evaluate your symptoms and diagnose their root cause, says Dr. Singh.
The following symptoms may indicate a sleep disorder:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or chronic drowsiness
- Regularly falling asleep during the day
- Taking a long time to fall asleep at night
- Waking up often or early
- Repeated awakenings due to snoring or gasping for air
- Sleep paralysis or muscle weakness
How to Find the Best Sleep Specialist for You
If you’re looking for a sleep specialist, make sure the physicians you’re considering are board-certified in sleep medicine. Behavioral sleep medicine specialists should be board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine, advises Dr. Grandner. “If your problems have more to do with sleep apnea, a sleep physician is probably a better choice,” he adds. ”If your problems have more to do with insomnia, then a behavioral sleep specialist may make more sense.”
While some people refer to themselves as sleep experts, sleep therapists, sleep coaches or sleep consultants, such terms don’t have any official meaning, according to Dr. Grandner. Be sure to review a person’s sleep specialist credentials to make sure they’re legitimate.
Additionally, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine hosts a search function on its website that can help anyone find an accredited sleep center in their area. For those looking for a behavioral sleep medicine specialist, the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine hosts a similar directory.
Your physician, friends or family members may also be good sources for finding a qualified sleep specialist near you. Just be sure to ask about the cost before your visit, as insurance coverage for sleep specialist visits varies.
Questions to Ask During Your First Appointment
Dr. Singh recommends writing down a detailed sleep history to share with your sleep specialist during your first appointment. Draw a story line that includes when your sleep problems started and whether they worsened over time. Include any possible contributing factors, such as weight gain, childbirth, lack of exercise or recent stressors. Finally, crystallize expectations about your sleep, and bring any recent medical testing results with you.
After discussing your sleep history with your doctor, ask the following questions:
- Is it possible that I have a sleep disorder, and, if so, what could it be?
- Based on my history, what are possible causes of my condition?
- What testing do you recommend based on my symptoms?
- Is a sleep study necessary?
- What do you recommend as treatment options?
- Are there any lifestyle changes that can help improve my sleep?
- If I have a sleep disorder, what risks should I be aware of?
Lastly, remember to keep your expectations reasonable when it comes to your sleep, says Dr. Singh. “People think everybody should get eight hours [of sleep] every night and feel like Superman the moment their eyes open and their feet touch the ground [in the morning]. But that’s not realistic for everyone,” he says.
