Parent-reported experiences of in-laboratory polysomnography in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: A cross-sectional multicentre study.
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First published online 04 October 2025.
Why this study was done
Polysomnography (PSG) is a sleep study used to diagnose children’s sleep problems. However, this test can be stressful and difficult for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Parents’ experiences of their child having a PSG had not been well understood. This study aimed to explore how parents and children felt about in-laboratory PSG and what factors made the experience harder or easier.
What the study did
Researchers surveyed 143 parents of children with NDD who had a PSG at one of three major hospitals in Australia. The survey asked about worry levels, how easy the setup was, whether the sleep seemed typical of home sleep, and preferences for future testing at home or in the lab.
What the study found
Children were more worried than their parents, especially those with autism or neuromuscular conditions.
About 20% of parents said the setup was difficult.
Only one in three parents thought their child’s sleep was similar to how they sleep at home.
Most parents (57%) preferred future sleep testing at home, while very few (7%) wanted another in-lab test.
What this means
In-laboratory PSG can cause worry and may not reflect how children with NDD sleep at home. Parents strongly preferred home-based sleep tests. The results show a clear need for less invasive, home-based options to make testing easier and more comfortable for families.
This study was conducted by:
Dr. Ajay Kevat, Dr. Dhruv Alwadhi, Dr Anne Bernard,Dr. Moya Vandeleur, Dr. Karen Waters & Dr. Jasneek Chawla,
For other accessible formats, please see the column to the right.
Disclaimer: The QDRN has utilised generative AI to refine the wording of this plain language summary. All content has been checked for accuracy, appropriate tone and clarity and approved by the author.
First published online 04 October 2025.
Why this study was done
Polysomnography (PSG) is a sleep study used to diagnose children’s sleep problems. However, this test can be stressful and difficult for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Parents’ experiences of their child having a PSG had not been well understood. This study aimed to explore how parents and children felt about in-laboratory PSG and what factors made the experience harder or easier.
What the study did
Researchers surveyed 143 parents of children with NDD who had a PSG at one of three major hospitals in Australia. The survey asked about worry levels, how easy the setup was, whether the sleep seemed typical of home sleep, and preferences for future testing at home or in the lab.
What the study found
Children were more worried than their parents, especially those with autism or neuromuscular conditions.
About 20% of parents said the setup was difficult.
Only one in three parents thought their child’s sleep was similar to how they sleep at home.
Most parents (57%) preferred future sleep testing at home, while very few (7%) wanted another in-lab test.
What this means
In-laboratory PSG can cause worry and may not reflect how children with NDD sleep at home. Parents strongly preferred home-based sleep tests. The results show a clear need for less invasive, home-based options to make testing easier and more comfortable for families.
This study was conducted by:
Dr. Ajay Kevat, Dr. Dhruv Alwadhi, Dr Anne Bernard,Dr. Moya Vandeleur, Dr. Karen Waters & Dr. Jasneek Chawla,
For other accessible formats, please see the column to the right.
Disclaimer: The QDRN has utilised generative AI to refine the wording of this plain language summary. All content has been checked for accuracy, appropriate tone and clarity and approved by the author.
