Sleep Medicine
Sleep apnea, snoring, and other sleep disorders can take a toll on your health – not to mention your relationships. Breathing disruptions while you sleep are no laughing matter. These problems can be downright dangerous. Get the treatment you need now, before things get worse.
At the Sleep Center at Georgetown ENT, we focus on getting to the root of your sleep or snoring problem. Board-certified sleep medicine physician Dr. Scott W. Franklin can expertly diagnose and treat a multitude of issues in adults and children.
A simple in-office ear, nose, and throat evaluation can determine if you have an upper airway obstruction that may be causing or contributing to the problem – such as nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or enlarged adenoids or tonsils. If this assessment is inconclusive, Dr. Franklin may recommend a sleep test to identify what is keeping you from getting the high quality sleep you need.
Sleep Testing
A fully accredited sleep lab, the Sleep Center at Georgetown ENT has the technology, equipment, and specially trained clinicians necessary to discover the cause of your disrupted sleep. Possible conditions that can be properly assessed during a sleep study include sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and more.
Many of our patients prefer to try an at-home sleep test first. After your evaluation with Dr. Franklin, we will provide you a device to take home with you, as well as instructions on how to use it. The device will measure your breathing patterns and blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Then, you simply return the device to us, and we will access the data it recorded.
For the most comprehensive sleep testing, however, we recommend an overnight sleep study at our comfortable, state-of-the-art facility. Our sleep center lab includes bedrooms that are warm, cozy, and inviting. Before you go to sleep, we will attach monitoring devices to your skin that will measure what is happening in your brain and body while you sleep. Nothing we use will pierce your skin or cause you any pain whatsoever. It is our goal to make the whole experience as pleasing and comfortable for you as possible.
Treating Sleep Disorders
There are many different ways to treat sleep disorders, depending on the particular problem you have been diagnosed with. Some of the most common conditions we treat at the Sleep Center at Georgetown ENT are chronic snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in adults and children.
Sleep apnea doesn’t discriminate – men, women, and children of all ages may be at risk of developing this very common sleep disorder. Treating it will depend on your specific condition and circumstances. Dr. Franklin may first recommend lifestyle changes like losing weight if you are overweight and avoiding alcohol.
Common treatments for obstructive sleep apnea include continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive air pressure (BiPAP) oxygen-delivery masks you wear at night. Another popular treatment for sleep apnea are oral appliances designed to keep your airway open while you sleep.
In some cases, surgical treatment options may be considered. Most can be conducted in a minimally invasive manner right here in our office – meaning general anesthesia is not required, and there is minimal to no downtime afterward.
Tongue ablation is one of the most common of these treatments. We use radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to reduce the amount of tissue at the base of your tongue. This can help it from obstructing your airway while you sleep. RFA can also be used to shrink excess tissue of the soft palate or throat, if either are contributing to your problem. The best part of RFA is that it allows us to target specific tissue – leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.
Besides being an inconvenience to loved ones, snoring means your breathing is restricted while you sleep. If your snoring is chronic or especially loud, it could indicate a more significant problem, like obstructive sleep apnea.
Depending on the cause of your snoring, treatment may include devices that help keep your airway unobstructed and open while you sleep, such as oral appliances or a CPAP mask. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique that removes specific excess tissue near your throat that can help open your airway and allow better breathing during sleep.
There are also numerous outpatient surgeries that may be considered if you have ear, nose, or throat problems that are contributing to your chronic snoring – such as swollen tonsils or adenoids, a deviated septum, or nasal polyps.
Believe it or not, sleep disorders are common during childhood. Most often, obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids, which are especially prevalent between the ages of 2 and 8. Snoring and shallow breathing during sleep, as well as daytime signs like irritability and mouth breathing may indicate your child has sleep apnea.
Left untreated, pediatric cases of sleep apnea could impact your child’s development and result in a failure to thrive. Dr. Franklin at the Sleep Center at Georgetown ENT is especially qualified and experienced in diagnosing and treating pediatric sleep apnea. In many cases, this may involve the surgical removal of chronically swollen tonsils or adenoids. Other medical or surgical treatments may also be recommended to treat sleep apnea in children.
Sleep Medicine Specialist in Georgetown, TX
Are you fatigued and irritable during the day? Do you wake up with a headache? If so, you may have a sleep disorder. The good news is that it may be easier to treat than you think. Contact the knowledgeable team of sleep medicine professionals at the Sleep Center at Georgetown ENT to find out more. Call (512) 869-0604 or request a visit now.
