Physicians at the Sleep Disorder Center are (l-r) Calvin Stafford, M.D., Andrew Borson, Ph.D., and Annmarie Gaskin, M.D.

The Crozer Sleep Disorders Center at Taylor Hospital, a member of the Crozer-Keystone Health System, is a multidisciplinary facility for the investigation and treatment of sleep problems. Established in 1978, the Sleep Disorders Center is the oldest nationally accredited facility for the evaluation of patients with sleep-related problems in the Greater Delaware Valley. Common sleep disorders appropriately referred for evaluation at a sleep disorders center include:

Sleeping Disorders
Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Narcolepsy

Chronic Sleep Deprivation

REM Behavior Disorders

Insomnia

Emotional Problems

Chronic Conditioned Arousal

Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Drug Dependence

Parasomnias

Disorders of Excessive Sleepiness

Sleepiness is a normal phenomenon encountered by anyone who is sleep deprived. Sleepiness is brief and corrected by increasing sleep time. Sleepiness of greater intensity and duration may reflect a serious medical problem. Moreover, automobile accidents, work problems, family difficulties and social embarrassment frequently occur. Evaluation at the Sleep Disorders Center is particularly helpful in establishing a diagnosis and treatment program.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Heavy snoring is often a problem for bed partners. It can also be a sign of sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep Apnea Syndrome affects from 1 to 5 percent of the population, particularly the middle-aged and geriatric, and results in recurrent gaps in breathing. Sleep Apnea Syndrome can produce reduction in oxygen supply to the body and brain, strain on the heart and lungs, and profoundly disturbed sleep. Effective treatments are available for snoring and for the various forms of sleep-disordered breathing. Often, a second night of evaluation is required to determine the correct treatment.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy and its variants, neurologic disorders that result in "sleep attacks" that can be quite disabling, can now be clearly identified with sleep center tests. While there is no cure for narcolepsy, the management of this disorder, through lifestyle changes, medication, and good sleep hygiene, can mean the difference between disability and productive living.

Chronic Sleep Deprivation

Chronic sleep deprivation can reflect scheduling difficulties, underlying disorders of the sleep/wake cycle, or an emotional disorder. Using various behavioral and psychological techniques, diagnosis and treatment can help resolve this difficulty.

REM Behavior Disorders

REM Behavior Disorders (RBD) are characterized by a lack of muscle atonia (paralysis) that normally occurs during REM sleep. This may cause the sleeper to "act out," experience atypical movements, or exhibit aggressive behavior during the REM stages of sleep. These behaviors may be documented by videotape recordings made in conjunction with polysomnography (sleep testing). The diagnosis is also confirmed by the patient's medical history. 

Insomnia

Virtually everyone has an occasional bad night of sleep. Short-term stress, jet lag, medical illness or emotional problems can produce a period of disturbed sleep, which usually improves when the problem causing the insomnia is resolved. Unfortunately, many people suffer from persistent chronic insomnia that seems to have no obvious cause.

Emotional Problems

Emotional problems, particularly depression, may often be present with an insomnia complaint. Through sleep studies and psychological testing, such a psychiatric diagnosis can be made, and the appropriate treatment plan or referral implemented.

Chronic Conditioned Arousal

Frequently, continued poor sleep reflects an expectation or "worry" about not being able to sleep, which is difficult to overcome. Poor sleep habits, misuse of medications, irregular work schedules or specific environmental disturbances may produce chronic insomnias. Persistent emotional difficulties also can produce impaired sleep. Disturbed breathing patterns (sleep apnea) can produce symptomatic poor sleep. Repeated muscle spasm (sleep myoclonus), often in the legs, can also cause insomnia. A sleep center evaluation defines the various causes of a patient's insomnia problem and provides an appropriate treatment program.

Pediatric Sleep Disorders

Childhood and adolescent sleep difficulties, particularly the inability to sleep at usual times or to sleep soundly, may be caused by various factors, including sleep apnea, poor sleep hygiene, and emotional adjustment difficulties. A sleep center evaluation, for children ages 5 years and older, can help with diagnosing the cause. Treatment is also available at the Sleep Disorders Center.

Drug Dependence

Drug dependence, whether on a prescribed tranquilizer/sedative, or on an illegal drug, is often at the heart of a sleep complaint. A sleep center may be the best place to undertake the education and confrontation necessary to help someone acknowledge a problem and to offer a workable alternative.

Parasomnias

Sleepwalking, bedwetting, frequent nightmares, night terrors, and nocturnal seizures are all "events of sleep" that are upsetting, disruptive, and sometimes even dangerous. Most commonly, such events are encountered in children and go away without treatment. Nevertheless, persistent sleep terror, bedwetting or similar events (called parasomnias) can be a serious problem in the family. In adults, they can produce social and psychological difficulties. Effective treatments are available after evaluation at the Sleep Disorders Center.