Sleep Medicine
Sleep Medicine
Advanced diagnosis. Personalized treatment. Better sleep.
If you’re getting enough sleep but still don’t feel rested, or your sleep is affecting how you feel during the day, there may be more going on. Kootenai Clinic Sleep Medicine provides evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing treatment for adults and children ages 13 and older. We start by understanding your symptoms, then determine what testing can help us get the answers we need.
That may include a home sleep study, a full overnight study in our accredited sleep lab, or specialized testing such as a Multiple Sleep Latency Test or actigraphy. Having different ways to evaluate your sleep helps us look more closely at concerns ranging from breathing and movement to excessive daytime sleepiness.
After testing, we explain your results clearly and work with you to find a treatment that fits your needs. Our support continues with PAP device monitoring, mask fitting and troubleshooting, treatment adjustments, and coordination with pulmonology, ENT, neurology, or behavioral health when needed. Because when sleep is better understood, you and your care team can make better decisions about what comes next.
Sleep Specialists
AASM Accredited
Home & In-Lab Testing
Why See a Sleep Medicine Specialist?
The same symptom can point to very different sleep problems. Snoring may be just snoring or a sign of sleep apnea. Daytime fatigue can have several possible causes. Sleep medicine specialists are trained to recognize these differences and determine when sleep testing can provide more answers. That expertise helps connect your symptoms to the right diagnosis and treatment options.
Our Services
Sleep Evaluations
You don’t need to know what kind of sleep disorder you have before you come to us. We evaluate adults and children ages 13 and older for concerns including:
- Loud or persistent snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Ongoing daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Unexpected sleep attacks
- Uncomfortable sensations or an urge to move your legs
- Unusual movements or behaviors during sleep
Your provider will review your symptoms, health history, and sleep patterns to determine whether sleep testing or treatment is needed.
Sleep Disorders We Treat
Our specialists diagnose and manage a range of sleep disorders in adults and children.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) — Repeated narrowing or blockage of the upper airway during sleep, which can interrupt breathing and lower oxygen levels.
Primary snoring — Snoring that occurs without obstructive sleep apnea. An evaluation can help determine whether snoring is primary or related to another sleep disorder.
Insomnia — Ongoing difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or getting restful sleep.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) — An uncomfortable urge to move the legs, usually when resting and often worse at night.
Narcolepsy — A neurological sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and may cause sudden sleep episodes or other symptoms.
Parasomnias — Unusual behaviors or experiences that occur while falling asleep, sleeping or waking, such as sleepwalking or acting out dreams.
Diagnostic Testing
Different sleep concerns call for different types of testing. Your sleep specialist will recommend a study based on your symptoms, health history and what they need to evaluate.
Testing may include:
- Home sleep studies to evaluate certain sleep-related breathing disorders from home
- Overnight polysomnography to monitor breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, brain activity, movement and other measures while you sleep
- CPAP or BiPAP titration studies to determine appropriate PAP settings
- Multiple Sleep Latency Tests (MSLT) to measure daytime sleepiness and help evaluate conditions such as narcolepsy
- Actigraphy to track sleep and wake patterns over time
Some studies can be completed at home. Others take place overnight or during the day in our AASM-accredited sleep laboratory, with registered sleep technologists monitoring your study.
Treatments & Ongoing Support
Treatment depends on what’s causing your sleep concerns. Your provider will review your results, explain your options, and recommend an approach based on your diagnosis and needs.
For patients using CPAP or BiPAP, support includes:
- Mask fitting
- On-site device downloads
- PAP compliance monitoring
- Equipment troubleshooting
- Help improving comfort and consistent use
- Follow-up visits and treatment adjustments
Sleep conditions and treatment needs can change over time. We continue to monitor your progress and adjust treatment when needed. We also work with primary care, pulmonology, ENT, neurology, and behavioral health when your care involves another specialty.
Planning for a sleep study?
Get details about home and in-lab testing, including how to prepare and what to expect.
More Options for Sleep Apnea
When CPAP Isn't Working
For eligible patients with obstructive sleep apnea who can't tolerate CPAP, our ENT and Sleep Medicine teams work together to evaluate surgical treatment options.
What to Expect
A referral is required. Once we receive your referral, our team will contact you to schedule your consultation.
Complete Your Forms
Complete the medical forms sent by the clinic and bring them with you or email them in advance to KootenaiClinicSleep@kh.org.
What to Bring
- Driver’s license or identification card
- Insurance card
- Copayment, if applicable
- CPAP machine, power cord, tubing and mask, if you use CPAP
If you use CPAP
Bring your equipment to your first appointment and each follow-up visit so our team can review it with you.
View test results and medical history anytime.
Check out MyChart Getting Started Guide or ask our nurses or front office to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really have to use CPAP?
CPAP is highly effective for many people with sleep apnea, but it is not the only treatment option. Your provider will consider your diagnosis, symptoms and health needs before recommending a treatment plan.
Can snoring alone be a sign of sleep apnea?
Yes. Snoring is a common symptom and may be the only sign noticed by you or your sleep partner. A sleep study can help determine whether snoring is harmless or related to sleep apnea.
Is sleep apnea only found in older or overweight adults?
No. Sleep apnea can affect people of all ages and body types, including children. An evaluation is important when symptoms are present.
Will my sleep disorder go away on its own?
Many sleep disorders are chronic and may worsen without treatment. An evaluation can help identify what’s affecting your sleep and whether treatment is needed.
Is daytime sleepiness normal?
Occasional tiredness happens, but feeling tired every day is not something you should have to accept. Persistent daytime sleepiness may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A referral is required for both a sleep medicine consultation and sleep testing. Once the referral is received, our team will contact you to schedule.
Can I complete a sleep study at home?
Some patients may be able to complete a home sleep study. Your provider will determine whether home or in-lab testing is the right option based on your symptoms and health history.
Do I really have to use CPAP?
CPAP is highly effective for many people with sleep apnea, but it is not the only treatment option. Your provider will consider your diagnosis, symptoms and health needs before recommending a treatment plan.
Is sleep apnea only found in older or overweight adults?
No. Sleep apnea can affect people of all ages and body types, including children. An evaluation is important when symptoms are present.
Is daytime sleepiness normal?
Occasional tiredness happens, but feeling tired every day is not something you should have to accept. Persistent daytime sleepiness may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder.
Can I complete a sleep study at home?
Some patients may be able to complete a home sleep study. Your provider will determine whether home or in-lab testing is the right option based on your symptoms and health history.
Can snoring alone be a sign of sleep apnea?
Yes. Snoring is a common symptom and may be the only sign noticed by you or your sleep partner. A sleep study can help determine whether snoring is harmless or related to sleep apnea.
Will my sleep disorder go away on its own?
Many sleep disorders are chronic and may worsen without treatment. An evaluation can help identify what’s affecting your sleep and whether treatment is needed.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A referral is required for both a sleep medicine consultation and sleep testing. Once the referral is received, our team will contact you to schedule.
Meet Our Sleep Medicine Team
