Overview
The Center for Healthy Sleep, directed by Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D., specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, obstructive and non-obstructive hypoventilation, central apnea, primary snoring and disorders of hypersomnia, including narcolepsy.
Our sleep medicine specialists are board certified, with expertise in sleep-related breathing disorders. To arrive at a diagnosis, the doctors may first evaluate your child to see if an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) is needed. If a sleep study is necessary, your child and one parent/guardian spend the night in an environment designed to relax the young patient and promote normal sleep.
The sleep study is performed by a registered polysomnography technologist using state-of-the-art equipment. The data is analyzed, and the specialist interprets the results to determine the appropriate treatment. Polysomnographic testing measures physiologic changes, including sleep stages, respiratory abnormalities, cardiac arrhythmias, body movements, arousals from sleep and abnormal behaviors in sleep.
Scheduling a Sleep Study
Please make sure we have your most current contact information, including phone number and address.
Sleep Lab: 858-966-4066
Main Pulmonary Office: 858-966-5846
Calls are returned within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Please wait at least two weeks after the study was ordered before calling to schedule. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please contact the lab as soon as possible — the wait list for sleep studies is quite long. If you do not give at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellation, we may not be able to reschedule the study.
Night of Study
On the night of the study, go to the main Hospital entrance (entrance #1). If you are arriving by car, you may park in the visitor parking lot on Children’s Way. Inform the receptionist that you are here for a sleep study; they will give you directions to the Nelson Medical Unit.
You should expect to be at the study for six to eight hours. The majority of studies are completed around 5:30 a.m. Please arrange for transportation after the study, as we are unable to accommodate sleeping beyond the study’s duration.
Study Results
Please call your doctor three weeks after the study is performed to obtain study results and further recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of sleep disorders does the Rady Children’s Sleep Center treat?
The Rady Children’s Sleep Center specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of pediatric sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, sleep terrors, behavioral sleep problems, sleep-disordered breathing, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Our pediatric sleep specialists provide individualized care tailored to each child’s needs.
What happens during a pediatric sleep study at the Rady Children’s Sleep Center?
A pediatric sleep study is conducted overnight to monitor your child’s breathing, brain activity, heart rate, and oxygen levels while they sleep. A trained sleep technologist ensures your child is comfortable while collecting data to help diagnose sleep disorders. Results and recommendations are shared with your referring physician and discussed with your family.
How do I know if my child needs to visit the Sleep Center?
If your child experiences excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, difficulty falling or staying asleep, frequent awakenings, or unusual behaviors during sleep, they may benefit from an evaluation at the Sleep Center. Our team assesses a variety of sleep concerns and develops a treatment plan based on your child’s needs.
What treatments are available?
The Rady Children’s Sleep Center offers a range of treatments, including behavioral sleep medicine, CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, and specialized care for complex sleep-disordered breathing. Our multidisciplinary team of pediatric pulmonologists and sleep technologists works together to support your child’s sleep health.
How can I schedule an appointment?
To schedule an appointment, please ask your child’s primary care provider for a referral or contact us directly. Our team is committed to helping your child achieve better sleep and overall well-being through expert, compassionate care.
In the News
- Later School Start Times Coming in 2022, fox5sandiego.com, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- New Guidelines: Children Under 5 Should Spend No More Than an Hour a Day in Front of Screens, cbs8.com, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- Tips for Helping Kids Adjust to Daylight Saving Time, kusi.com, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- Parents Asking San Diego Unified to Let Their Children Sleep, nbcsandiego.com, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- Back to School: How Much Sleep Do Kids Need, CBS 8, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- School Starting Later, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- Now is the Time to Get Your Child’s Sleep Routine on Track Before School Begins, cw6sandiego.com, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- Is Your Kid Getting Enough Sleep?, fox5sandiego.com, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- How An Early School Start Is Affecting Teenagers’ Sleep, kpbs.org, features Rakesh Bhattacharjee, M.D.
- National Sleep Awareness Week, kusi.com, features Daniel Lesser, M.D.