Specialties & Conditions Sleep Medicine Center
The Sleep Medicine Center at Lurie Children’s is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Our staff members have unique expertise in treating healthy and medically complex children from birth through 18 years of age, including children with craniofacial abnormalities and genetic syndromes. We are unique in our ability to evaluate newborns, including infants born prematurely. We help in the management of sleep disordered breathing in children with complex medical conditions such as neuromuscular disease, craniofacial syndrome, chronic lung diseases and respiratory control disorders.
Our center offers multiple services, including:
The Sleep Medicine Center at Lurie Children’s Hospital was first accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in 1996 and since has been re-accredited every 5 years. The last re-accreditation occurred in 2019. Accreditation by the AASM indicates its highest standard of care, excellent facility management and the highest staff credentials. In addition to providing top-quality care, we also place a strong emphasis on training future pediatric sleep medicine specialists, pediatric sleep and research. The Sleep Medicine Center is the training site for pediatric sleep medicine for the ACGME accredited fellowship training program of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Our center’s current research studies include investigation into measuring excessive sleepiness in children, evaluating the effects of lack of sleep during childhood, and studying infants’ breathing pattern.
Sleep Issues in Infants
Sleeplessness (Insomnia) in Children & Adolescents
Problems of Wake & Sleep Timing
Daytime Sleepiness/Fatigue
Parasomnias or Unusual Nighttime Events Occurring During Sleep
Breathing Problems During Sleep
Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Attending Physician, Autonomic Medicine, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Patient visits with sleep medicine physicians are conducted at the following locations:
Sleep studies are conducted at the following locations:
Our state-of-the-art facility laboratories offer individual rooms, allowing families to stay overnight with their children. The Sleep Laboratory is staffed by experienced pediatric sleep technicians. These specialists gather information to help evaluate sleep-related problems. There is availability for sleep studies 7 days a week. To schedule a sleep study, please call 312.227.6740.
If you are coming to our laboratory for a sleep study (also known as polysomnography), you and your child are probably wondering what to expect.
In this step-by-step video walkthrough of a sleep study, your family can follow a patient as he completes a night in the Sleep Lab.
Most sleep studies are completed at night. They typically start between 7 pm and finish between 5:30 and 6 am. Physicians are not present during the study. During a sleep study, the sleep technologist will place sensors on your child’s body to record a number of different body functions. These sensors are not invasive and do not break the skin. They are used to monitor:
The sleep technologist will also record your child, using both audio and video, to watch how your child sleeping pattern and assess and hear your child’s breathing and snoring during sleep.
Wash your child’s hair thoroughly the night before or morning of the sleep study. Don’t use oil, gel or hairspray. Reassure your child that you will stay with him or her through the whole test and that nothing should hurt.
You will want to bring any items your child will need during the night, such as pajamas, a favorite pillow and blanket, a bottle or pacifier and any medications. You may also want to bring a DVD of a favorite movie so your child can watch it while we’re getting him or her ready.
If your child is having an overnight study, one parent or responsible caregiver must stay with your child. We are only able to accommodate one parent or caregiver. You may want to bring pajamas and other personal items for yourself.
If you child is using CPAP, Bi-level or any other device assisting with breathing at night (except for oxygen concentrator), please, bring this device along with the mask and the power cord to the study to verify settings.
Before your sleep study, please also download and fill out our sleep checklist.
Please do not let your child sleep in or take extra naps on the day of the study — especially not right before the visit. Your child can eat before the study, but should void caffeinated drinks or chocolate.
The technologist will apply the study sensors on your child. After the technologist gets your child ready for the study, they will dim the lights and let your child go to sleep. You will stay in the room with your child. The technologist may enter the room during the night to make adjustments, but usually won’t have to wake your child up. In the morning, the technologist will wake your child and remove the sensors. Most families leave by 6 a.m.
A doctor in the sleep center will interpret the results of your child’s sleep study and sends preliminary results to the doctor who ordered the study and to certain other doctors involved in your child’s care within 24 to 72 hours. We usually send out the full report within one week. Technologists do not give their impressions or preliminary results before the physician interprets the study.
If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our Sleep Medicine specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®) or visit our Appointments page for more information.
To schedule a sleep study, please call 312.227.6740.
Telemedicine appointments are now available, in addition to regular clinical visits. Telehealth visits allow patients to access a sleep specialist from the comfort of their own home. To see if your pediatric needs can be met virtually, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®).
Before your first appointment, we ask that you print and fill out our New Patient Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, and bring it with you to the appointment.
Download the Sleep Questionnaire
If you are a healthcare provider looking to make a referral, please reference the following forms:
Download the Bears Questionnaire
Download the Modified Pediatric Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Recommended Reading on Sleep & Sleep Problems
Additional Resources
Lurie Children’s is affiliated with Northwestern University. Medical trainees from Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital are training in the area of children's sleep and may be present during your child's visit.
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.
