Inpatient Programs & Services

What lies beneath your child's sleep problems could be a potentially serious disorder. The Sleep Lab at Our Children's House at Baylor can help diagnose it. Our hospital-based sleep study laboratory is dedicated to overnight testing for pediatric patients from birth to age 18. Directed by a physician specialist and supported by polysomnogram technicians, pediatric nursing and respiratory staff, the Sleep Lab offers comprehensive, advanced diagnostics and,if necessary, consultation with a physician. 

A team of pediatric and respiratory specialists, led by Andrew Gelfand, M.D., medical director of Our Children's House at Baylor, and Hilary Pearson, M.D., hospitalist on the medical staff at Our Children's House at Baylor, help guide the study. 

When Sleep Evaluation is the Next Step

Sleep problems in young patients can be caused by a wide variety of conditions.  Left untreated, these problems can become debilitating, even dangerous. 

Conditions:

• History of brain tumor
• Down Syndrome
• Asthma or severe allergies
• ADHD
• Craniofacial abnormality
• Snoring or other noises
• Bed-wetting
• Daytime sleepiness
• Sleep apnea
• Frequent sleep terrors
• Sudden behavioral problems
• Memory dysfunction or lack of concentration
• Excessive movement during sleep 

If your child becomes anxious before the study begins, a respiratory therapist or a nurse will help your son or daughter understand what will take place. Using medical play and other techniques, our specially trained staff will make your child feel comfortable and reduce his or her stress. During the study itself, we use external devices to observe your child via monitoring equipment; there are no internal or invasive devices. The advanced equipment monitors how your child breathes during sleep and helps determine if your child has apnea.  

What Diagnostic Testing Covers

The Sleep Lab's comprehensive diagnostic testing includes a full night of polysomnogram monitoring using advanced technology to assess sleep stages and classify problems. Closely observed throughout the night, patients are screened for sleep disorders.  CIPAP or BIPAP titration, Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), decannulation studies for tracheostromies and oxygen titration studies are also offered.  Following testing, a complete report will be sent to your referring physician. 
What to Bring

You or a guardian should plan to stay with your child.  You must bring an insurance card, social security number, name and date of birth of the insured patient, comfortable two-piece pajamas, socks or house shoes, overnight toiletries, a change of clothes, a favorite pillow, blanket or stuffed toy, a favorite bedtime DVD and, if applicable, a CPAP or BIPAP mask.