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Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults
Published on: January 26, 2019
Telemedicine-based sleep services for a complex child: optimizing care during a pandemic and beyond
Innessa Donskoy1, Darius Loghmanee1, Barry G Fields2,3
1Advocate Children's Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois.
Insights
Telemedicine and home sleep apnea testing effectively diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and irregular sleep-wake disorder in a nonverbal autistic child with obesity. Remote care offers significant benefits for pediatric sleep medicine, even post-pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Telehealth
Background:
- A 12-year-old nonverbal male with autism and morbid obesity presented with snoring, tonsillar hypertrophy, and sleep onset difficulties.
- The family's social challenges had previously prevented in-person medical consultations.
Observation:
- The patient's symptoms suggested potential sleep-disordered breathing and circadian rhythm issues.
- The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic necessitated alternative healthcare delivery models.
Findings:
- Telemedicine consultations facilitated remote assessment and management.
- Home sleep apnea testing enabled accurate diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.
- An irregular sleep-wake disorder was also identified, highlighting complex sleep issues.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the successful application of remote pediatric sleep care for complex patients.
- Telehealth and home testing are valuable tools for diagnosing and managing pediatric sleep disorders.
- Continued utilization of these remote methods can improve access and outcomes in pediatric sleep medicine beyond the pandemic.
Abstract:
A 12-year-old male with nonverbal autism and morbid obesity was referred to a pediatric sleep center during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic for complaints of snoring with tonsillar hypertrophy and difficulty falling asleep. Due to social challenges, the family had not sought in-person care in the past. Through telemedicine consultation and home sleep apnea testing, the patient was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea as well as an irregular sleep-wake disorder. This unique utilization of the health care system in the care of a complex patient with multiple sleep disorders demonstrates the utility of remote care and testing. There is a great benefit to continuing to provide pediatric sleep care in this way beyond the pandemic.
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