What to expect
during a at home Sleep Study
What Is a Sleep Study?
A sleep study, or polysomnography, is a diagnostic tool used to assess your breathing, brain activity, heart rhythms, and oxygen levels while you sleep. It helps detect conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), insomnia, and other sleep-related disorders.
At my psychiatric practice in Somerset West, we use home-based sleep testing to help patients get the answers they need—without the discomfort of a hospital stay.
Meet WatchPAT: A comfortable home sleep test
Instead of traditional wires and clinical beds, we use the WatchPAT sleep test – a compact, comfortable home-based device. No headgear, electrodes, or overnight labs. Just restful sleep at home in your own bed.
How it works:
- A soft probe is worn on one finger to monitor oxygen levels and pulse.
- A lightweight sensor clips to your chest to detect breathing movements.
- A wrist-worn device tracks your sleep stages using peripheral arterial tone.
The WatchPAT device allows us to capture detailed data without disturbing your night’s rest. It is clinically validated and approved for the diagnosis of conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea, offering accuracy comparable to in-lab sleep studies for most patients.
What to expect during a WatchPAT Sleep Study
1. Pre-Study Briefing
Our nursing staff will either show you a quick in-person demo or send a short video explaining exactly how to attach your WatchPAT probe and sensor. You’ll practise snapping the tiny chest sensor onto your shirt and sliding the finger probe on—just like putting on a ring.
2. Getting Set Up
Slip on the wrist unit, clip the finger probe, and click the chest sensor in place. Flip a switch on the wrist unit—no complicated menus, just “on” and “off.” Then get comfortable under the covers and your sleep study begins.
3. Overnight Monitoring
The WatchPAT device silently records your sleep architecture (light, deep, and REM stages), breathing events, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. If you roll over or change position, the device notes that too—there are no wires to disturb you.
4. Morning Wrap-Up
When you wake—naturally or by choice—simply unsnap the sensors and switch off the unit. Return the device to our clinic or use the pre-paid courier bag we provide.
Want to explore the full process in more detail? Visit our Sleep Studies page for an expanded breakdown.
What a Sleep Study can reveal
Sleep studies provide valuable insights into your:
- Sleep architecture – Insight into light, deep and REM stages, which support physical and emotional recovery
- Breathing patterns – Identifying sleep apnoea or disruptions
- Oxygen levels – Detecting dips linked to fatigue and poor concentration
- Heart rate – Monitoring overnight stress and recovery
These findings can explain daytime tiredness, mood issues, and memory lapses—and help tailor effective treatments.
How Sleep Affects Mental and Emotional Health
Sleep is essential for emotional regulation. It’s during sleep that your brain processes memories, sorts through stress, and helps you reset emotionally. Poor sleep can disrupt this delicate system, leading to mood swings, burnout, and even depression.
Understanding your sleep patterns allows us to design a holistic care plan that strengthens both mind and body.
Is a Sleep Study Right for You?
If you wake up tired, snore loudly, struggle with focus, or experience low moods that don’t improve with rest, a home sleep study may help you get to the root cause.
Image source: Airo Health Care
Take the next step to better sleep
If you’re experiencing poor sleep, persistent fatigue, or symptoms that may relate to obstructive sleep apnoea, you’re welcome to reach out — no referral needed.
At Dr Kobus van der Walt’s practice in Somerset West, we offer modern, patient-friendly sleep studies to support your overall wellbeing. We welcome patients from Somerset West, Stellenbosch, and across the Western Cape and Northern Cape.
If you’d like to learn more about sleep testing, you can visit the Sleep Studies page, read the Sleep FAQs, or book a consultation.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
- Dr Kobus van der Walt
- Sleep Studies
Sleep is vital to mental, emotional, and physical health. A home sleep study may be arranged if clinically appropriate.
Referrals are accepted from psychiatrists, GPs, and psychologists — and self-referrals are welcome.
Contact Dr Kobus van der Walt
Sleep Studies in Somerset West, Stellenbosch, the Western Cape & Northern Cape
Ready to take the next step?
An integrated, ethical approach to interventional care
Sleep is foundational to emotional well-being and cognitive functioning.
This service is offered as part of a broader, person-centred psychiatric practice — where care is tailored, clinically grounded, and responsive to each individual’s needs.
Visit the Services page to learn more about additional options available through my practice.