Sleep Disorders Center

The Sleep Disorders Center at The Children's Hospital of Alabama is the only multidisciplinary sleep disorders center in Alabama and surrounding regions dedicated exclusively to children. Our center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

We diagnose and care for children with any type of sleep disorder, including (but not limited to):

• Sleep-disordered breathing
• Apnea of infancy
• Parasomnias (sleep walking, sleep terrors)
• Narcolepsy
• Idiopathic Hypersomnia
• Circadian rhythm disorders (delayed sleep phase syndrome)
• Movement disorders (periodic limb movement disorder, head banging)
• Insomnias

We aid in the evaluation and management of children with obstructive sleep apnea, as well as chronic lung diseases, neuromuscular disease with chronic respiratory failure, hypoventilation syndrome, and respiratory control disorders.

Our staff assist in making recommendations about supplemental oxygen, non-invasive ventilatory support and mechanical assisted ventilation during sleep.

Our Sleep Disorders Center consists of twelve beds with state of the art equipment, as well as three portable systems for inpatient studies.

Hours:
Sleep Studies are performed five nights a week. Studies are not performed on Friday or Saturday nights. You and your child should arrive at 6:30pm. Registration is on 2nd Floor in Referred Testing. Registration for Sunday is on 1st floor in Admitting.

Important Telephone Numbers:
If you have any questions, and need to change your appointment, please contact us at 205-638-9386, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Referring a Patient:
If you need to schedule an appointment for an overnight sleep study or a sleep clinic appointment. The referring Physician should contact the Sleep Disorder Center on Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at 205-638-9386. You may also download our referral form and fax it to the Sleep Disorders Center at 205-638-2466 (please include clinic notes from last visit, and attaching an insurance referral). Once the appointment is scheduled, our staff will fax appointment date to the referring physician. Our staff will mail out appointment date to the parent(s) or guardian within once week. 

Scheduling a Polysomnogram:
Although some patients should be seen first by one of our staff, overnight polysomnograms can be ordered directly by a physician by completing a request form, including clinic notes from last visit, and attaching an insurance referral. These completed can be faxed to 205-638-2466.  Once the appointment is scheduled, our staff will fax appointment date to the referring physician. Our staff will mail out appointment date to the parent(s) or guardian within one week.

Plan Your Visit

You and your child should arrive at the hospital by 6:30 p.m. Please go to Referred Testing on 2nd floor in the McWane Building to register your child. If your study is scheduled for a Sunday night, please register in the Russell Building on 2nd floor in Admitting. After registering your child please proceed to the sleep center located in the McWayne Building on 5th floor.

Please do not allow your child to have caffeine on the day of study. Dinner is not served; please feel free to bring snacks. Breakfast is provided for your child. A parent or guardian can purchase a meal for $3.50. Most likely you will go home the morning of your sleep study and the sleep lab will call you with the results. Sometimes we ask families to stay to see a doctor the next morning if an intervention was made during the night.

The hook-up procedure is approximately an hour to an hour and a half. Sensors are applied to the head (EEG) for assessing stages of sleep. In addition, special sensors are applied near your child's nose, chest and abdomen to measure breathing. Other sensors are applied to your child's legs to measure movement during sleep. All sensors are applied externally to the skin.

Your child can bring a favorite bedtime item (toy, teddy bear or blanket ) to help him or her feel more comfortable.  A parent or guardian is required to stay with children 14 and under. No siblings are allowed to stay overnight. There are two sleep chairs provided in each room.  Each bedroom has a TV/DVD combo. Our facility also has a shower, microwave, and refrigerator. Please silence cells phone after lights off. Televisions are turned off at lights off.