Sleep Specialist (Somnologist)

What is a sleep specialist (somnologist)?

A sleep specialist (somnologist) is a healthcare provider with specialized training to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.

Sleep medicine is a medical specialty. This means that somnologists usually have a background in other medical fields like neurology, psychiatry, otolaryngology (ENT) or internal medicine, among others, before focusing on sleep.

What does a sleep specialist do?

A somnologist can address any issue that affects your sleep, including:

• Performing a detailed history of your sleep concerns.
• Performing a physical exam to help explain your sleep concerns.
• Ordering diagnostic tests (like an overnight sleep study).
• Interpreting test results (analyzing your sleep diary or actigraph data).
• Diagnosing sleep disorders.
• Treating sleep disorders by recommending routine changes, medications or devices, among others.

Your sleep specialist may work closely with other healthcare providers to manage a sleep disorder, including:

• Primary care physicians.
• ENT (ear, nose and throat) physicians.
• Mental health providers.
• Neurologists.
• Pediatricians.

What sleep concerns can a sleep specialist help with?

Common conditions that sleep specialists diagnose include:

• Daytime fatigue, including sleepiness and feeling run down.
• Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.
• Extreme daytime sleepiness.
• Snoring and sleep apnea.
• Restless leg syndrome.

What’s the difference between a sleep technologist and a sleep specialist?

A sleep technologist is a healthcare provider who performs a diagnostic sleep test like a sleep study or a multiple sleep latency test. A sleep specialist is the physician who orders the test and interprets the data to make a diagnosis.

How do you become a somnologist?

To become a somnologist, you need to meet education, training and certification requirements, including:

• Earn a bachelor’s degree (four years).
• Complete medical school (four years).
• Attend a residency (three years).
• Complete a fellowship in sleep medicine (one year).
• Earn a sleep medicine certification from the American Board of Sleep Medicine.

It takes at least 12 years to gain the knowledge and experience to practice sleep medicine.

When should I visit a sleep specialist?

You might visit a sleep specialist if you experience symptoms that make falling and staying asleep difficult, or if you have trouble waking up or staying awake. These symptoms may interfere with how you function at work or school.

A physician may refer you to see a somnologist if you experience symptoms that affect your quality and quantity of sleep. Your sleep specialist will determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and offer treatment options to help you get the rest you need.