Sleep Disorders

Sleep Medicine is a medical speciality involved in the diagnosis and management of conditions which affect or arise from sleep.

People with sleep disorders may describe snoring, stopping breathing during sleep, difficulties getting to sleep or staying asleep, or excessive tiredness during the day. Many shift workers also experience problems with their sleep.

Common sleep disorders in Australia include snoring, sleep apnoea, insomnia, sleepwalking, restless legs and narcolepsy.

The diagnosis of sleep disorders begins with a detailed assessment of the person’s sleep complaint. Further evaluation may include a sleep study, which can be performed either at home or in sleep laboratory.

Depending on the specific sleep issue, the sleep physicians at Lung and Sleep Victoria have access to a wide variety of treatment strategies and also work closely with allied health specialists including sleep psychologists, dentists, surgeons and CPAP therapists to optimise treatment outcomes.