Sleep Apnea Screening in South Shore, Montreal
Sleep apnea screening at Clinique Revive is a clinician-led assessment of your sleep symptoms, risk factors, and physical findings, with a clear path to formal diagnostic testing if it is warranted. The visit uses validated questionnaires (such as STOP-BANG and Epworth) plus a focused exam to estimate your risk and decide whether a home sleep study or in-lab polysomnography is the right next step.
Many Rive-Sud patients choose to start here because the public-system path to a sleep study can be slow.
Validated screening tools
Standardized questionnaires (STOP-BANG, Epworth) translate symptoms into a risk score the clinician can act on.
Focused physical assessment
Neck circumference, airway and craniofacial exam, BMI and blood pressure all inform the picture.
Pathway to diagnosis
If risk is meaningful, the clinician explains the options for confirmatory testing — home study or in-lab.
When sleep apnea screening is appropriate
Book a screening if you snore loudly, have witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep, wake up unrefreshed, fall asleep during the day, or have a partner who has noticed gasping or choking at night. Risk factors that justify screening include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, obesity, large neck circumference, and recent weight gain.
Screening is not the diagnostic test itself — confirming sleep apnea requires recorded measurement during sleep.
What to bring to a sleep apnea screening
Bring information your bed partner can provide: snoring patterns, observed pauses, restlessness. Bring your medication list (some sedatives and certain blood pressure medications matter), a record of recent blood pressure readings if you have them, and any prior sleep study results.
If you use a partner-recorded video or audio of your sleep, that can be quite useful — bring it on your phone if you have one.
If sleep apnea is suspected
If risk is low, the clinician will explain reassuring findings and revisit if symptoms change. If risk is moderate to high, you discuss next steps: home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) — a portable device worn at home — or in-lab polysomnography for more complex cases.
The clinician explains the trade-offs and helps coordinate the test. Treatment options (CPAP, mandibular advancement devices, positional therapy, weight management, ENT referral) are discussed only after a confirmed diagnosis.
- Health card or ID
- medication list
- partner observations or recordings if available
- recent BP readings
- prior sleep study results if any
Family physician
20–30 minutes for the screening visit
South Shore, Montreal, Kahnawake, Candiac — and across the South Shore (Rive-Sud)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sleep apnea be diagnosed from symptoms alone?
No. Symptoms suggest the diagnosis and screening tools quantify risk, but confirming sleep apnea requires recorded measurement of breathing, oxygen, and effort during sleep.
What is the difference between a home sleep study and in-lab polysomnography?
Home studies are simpler, more accessible, and adequate for many patients with high pre-test probability. In-lab studies measure more channels and are needed for complex cases or when home testing is inconclusive.
Will my insurance cover the test?
Coverage varies. Some private plans cover home sleep tests in part.
The clinic provides receipts; check directly with your insurer for your specific plan.
Is CPAP the only treatment?
No. CPAP is the most studied and effective for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, but oral appliances, positional therapy, weight management, and (rarely) surgery are alternatives discussed based on severity and patient preference.