Our Center
Established in 1979, the Sleep Disorders Center in Smithtown, NY offers services in a quiet, private setting using state-of-the-art equipment. The Sleep Disorders Center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, providing a full range of diagnostic and treatment services to patients of all ages, including infants with sleep-related symptoms. The medical staff consists of nationally recognized physicians who are credentialed in Sleep Medicine with expertise in a variety of specialties to provide advanced care to patients with sleep disorders.
Our sleep technologist staff consists of registered polysomnographers and licensed respiratory therapists who are present for patients requiring oxygen during sleep.
"It is estimated that over 40 million adults and children in the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders. Some studies show that 60% of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more, yet only 40% are asked by their physicians about the quality of their sleep. Millions struggle to stay alert at home, in school, on the job, and on the road. In the United States alone, fatigue contributes to more than 100,000 police reported highway accidents, resulting in 71,000 and 1,500 deaths each year."
- National Sleep Foundation
The Stony Brook Medicine Sleep Disorders Center was named to Sleep Review's Best of 2013 Sleep Doctors and Facilities list. The center is the only New York facility named to the list compiled by the national professional journal for sleep specialists and was chosen based on the recommendation of a national panel of leading sleep professionals. The 'Best of' selections were picked after reviewing nominated facilities' medical directors' credentials and qualifications, the facilities' accreditations and practices and overall contributions to the field of sleep medicine.
The Stony Brook Difference
When you come to the Stony Brook Medicine Sleep Disorders Center, you will have access to an experienced team of neurologists, pulmonologists, and pediatricians. Our multidisciplinary resources set us apart from other centers in the region and allow us to diagnose and treat even the most complex cases. We specialize in upper airway pressure flow dynamics during sleep and the collapse that leads to sleep apnea, a common disorder that causes many brief interruptions in breathing during the night. However, we are also skilled with insomnia (inability to fall or stay asleep), parasomnia (disturbances such as night terrors and sleepwalking), circadian rhythm disorders, and more. Because sleep is so intimately tied to central nervous system function, many patients with neurological conditions such as stroke, migraine, and back pain benefit from our services as well. Families of children with sleep disorders symptoms may be asked to attend the initial consultation to discuss concerns.
We aim to achieve excellent results while ensuring you feel supported and empowered throughout the process. Our modern, hotel-style rooms are equipped with many modern comforts, including televisions and VCRs. We provide a patient lounge with kitchen facilities, a vending machine, children's books and toys, an ATM, and a selection of herbal teas. We strive to make your experience second-to-none.
Symptoms of Sleep Disorders
The term "sleep disorders" refers to a wide range of symptoms including daytime sleepiness, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, night terrors, snoring, and sleep apnea. The symptoms of a sleep disorder can present in a variety of ways. Some patients complain of feeling unrefreshed following sleep, while others report sound sleep but still complain of daytime sleepiness. Still others complain of poor or inadequate sleep. Your primary care physician can help determine if a visit to one of our sleep medicine physicians is warranted.
Clinical Diagnosis and Sleep Testing
Patients referred for a consultation with a sleep physician will be evaluated, during which time the patient's history is taken and a physical examination is performed. The physician may recommend sleep disorders testing. This clinical testing usually takes place at the Sleep Disorders Center over the course of one or two nights.
If overnight sleep testing is recommended, you will be greeted upon arrival by a technologist who will explain the procedures. You will be assigned to a room and the technologist will apply electrode sensors that stay in place for the duration of the testing. These sensors record brain waves, heart rate and rhythm, leg movements, and blood and oxygen flow during your test. The technologist will work with you to accommodate special needs and to alleviate any problems that may arise. The technologist will also assist you if you need to get out of bed during the night for any reason.
At the conclusion of the testing, at approximately 7:00 am, the electrodes will be removed. Showers are available for your use.
In specific cases, a home sleep study may be appropriate as well and will be further discussed with the sleep provider.
Testing Results and Treatment Options
Results of your test will be interpreted and reviewed by the physician and treatment options discussed during your next visit with the physician. The results provide valuable information about your sleep patterns to help the physician determine your specific needs and the most suitable treatment approach. Symptoms often disappear when sleep improves resulting in significant improvement in overall mental and physical health and well being.
One of the most common treatments for sleep disorders is the management of the airway by a device called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which uses a face mask that delivers air into the nose and/or mouth to prevent the pauses in breathing that characterize sleep apnea. Other treatment possibilities include BiPAP, VPAP, sleep schedule management, sleep hygiene strategies, oral appliances, positional therapy, medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and genetic counseling.