US Medical Term · tests
Sleep Study (Polysomnography)
Estudio del Sueño (Polisomnografía)
What it means
A sleep study, also known as polysomnography, is a test that measures and records different body functions while you sleep, including breathing rate, blood oxygen level, heart rate, brain waves, and leg and eye movements. It checks how well you are sleeping and is used to diagnose sleep disorders; common sleep disorders include sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy. The study is done during your normal sleeping hours at a hospital, a sleep study clinic, or in your own home. At a hospital or clinic you stay overnight, and a health care provider attaches electrodes (small metal disks) to the scalp, eyelids, chin, chest, and legs. A home sleep study uses fewer sensors and is used to help diagnose sleep apnea.
Sleep Study (Polysomnography) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Estudio del Sueño (Polisomnografía)
- Gender and article
- masculine: el estudio del sueño; feminine: la polisomnografía
- Pronunciation
- ehs-TOO-dyoh dehl SWEH-nyoh (poh-lee-sohm-noh-grah-FEE-ah)
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| polisomnograma | General | Listed by the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia among the alternative names of the test. |
| PSG | General | Abbreviation listed by the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia among the alternative names of the test. |
The headword pairs two names for the same test. MedlinePlus en español says un estudio del sueño is also known as polisomnografía, and its encyclopedia article titled Polisomnografía opens by calling the test a sleep study. The two names differ in gender: el estudio del sueño is masculine and la polisomnografía is feminine. The encyclopedia lists polisomnograma and the abbreviation PSG among its alternative names, and its English counterpart lists the same abbreviation.
A study done at home is estudio del sueño en el hogar, which MedlinePlus en español says is also known as estudio de apnea del sueño. Words that go with the test are trastornos del sueño (sleep disorders), apnea del sueño (sleep apnea), insomnio (insomnia), ronquidos (snoring), electrodos (electrodes), oxímetro de pulso (pulse oximeter) and centro del sueño (sleep center). The specially trained professionals who monitor the person through the night are called tecnólogos de polisomnografía.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I snore loudly and I wake up gasping for breath. | Ronco fuerte y me despierto jadeando para respirar. |
| Clinician | I am going to order a sleep study to check for sleep apnea. | Voy a pedirle un estudio del sueño para ver si tiene apnea del sueño. |
| Patient | Do I have to spend the night at the clinic, or can I do the study at home? | ¿Tengo que pasar la noche en la clínica, o puedo hacer el estudio en casa? |
| Clinician | We will attach small electrodes to your scalp, chin, chest, and legs. | Le colocaremos electrodos pequeños en el cuero cabelludo, la barbilla, el pecho y las piernas. |
| Patient | What if I need to use the bathroom during the night? | ¿Y si necesito ir al baño durante la noche? |
| Clinician | Please avoid alcohol and caffeine during the afternoon and evening before the test. | Por favor, evite el alcohol y la cafeína durante la tarde y la noche antes de la prueba. |
| Patient | Should I take my usual medicines that night? | ¿Debo tomar mis medicamentos habituales esa noche? |
| Patient | When will I get the results of the sleep study? | ¿Cuándo me darán los resultados del estudio del sueño? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Sleep Study (Polysomnography) |
| Spanish (Español) | Estudio del Sueño (Polisomnografía) |
| Chinese (中文) | 睡眠研究（多導睡眠檢查） |
| Korean (한국어) | 수면 다원 검사 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đo đa ký giấc ngủ (nghiên cứu giấc ngủ) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Sleep Study |
| Portuguese (Português) | Estudo do Sono (Polissonografia) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การตรวจการนอนหลับ (Polysomnography) |
| Japanese (日本語) | 睡眠ポリグラフ検査 |
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Brain and nerves
All terms in this area: Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios
Sources
- Sleep Study: MedlinePlus Medical Test — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Estudio del sueño: Prueba de laboratorio de MedlinePlus — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Polysomnography (Medical Encyclopedia) — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Polisomnografía (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026