Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults
Published on: January 26, 2019
Experiences of Children With Down Syndrome and Caregivers Using Contactless Sleep Monitoring as Polysomnography
Kiara Sclip1,2, Andrew Collaro1,2, Jasneek Chawla1,2
1Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; and.
Insights
Contactless Sonomat monitoring shows promise for children with Down syndrome (DS) experiencing sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Caregivers found the Sonomat easy to use at home, offering a potential alternative to standard polysomnography (PSG).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Genetics and Rare Diseases
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in children with Down syndrome (DS).
- Standard polysomnography (PSG) sensor application is often poorly tolerated by children with DS due to sensory sensitivities, leading to study failures.
- Alternative monitoring methods are needed for accurate SDB diagnosis in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate caregiver experiences with Sonomat, a contactless sleep monitoring system.
- To assess Sonomat as a potential alternative to PSG for children with DS.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving children with DS undergoing PSG for SDB evaluation.
- Caregiver questionnaires were used to gather data on experiences with both PSG and Sonomat (in-hospital and home).
- Descriptive statistics analyzed the collected responses.
Main Results:
- Airflow sensors during PSG were poorly tolerated by 30% of children.
- All caregivers reported positive experiences with Sonomat used at home.
- While easy to use, only 56% of caregivers preferred Sonomat over in-lab PSG.
Conclusions:
- Sonomat is a promising contactless tool for screening SDB in children with DS, especially when PSG is not tolerated.
- The system's ease of use and acceptability support its role in complementing traditional diagnostics, particularly for home monitoring.
- Further integration of Sonomat could improve SDB detection rates in this vulnerable pediatric population.
Background:
Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is more prevalent in children with Down syndrome (DS), and polysomnography (PSG) is routinely performed by 4 years of age. However, application of sensors to the scalp and midface is often poorly tolerated in this population because of behavioral and sensory sensitivities, resulting in failed studies and incomplete data.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore caregiver experiences and perspectives of contactless sleep monitoring using Sonomat as an alternative to PSG.
Methods:
This was a cohort study of children with DS undergoing PSG for evaluation of SDB. Caregivers completed study-specific questionnaires on their child's experiences with PSG and Sonomat (in-hospital, home). Descriptive statistics of responses are reported.
Results:
Fifty-six children underwent simultaneous Sonomat and PSG monitoring, with 28 continuing home monitoring. Airflow sensors were poorly tolerated during PSG, with 30% of children unable to tolerate both nasal prongs and oronasal thermistor. All caregivers who used the Sonomat at home rated the experience positively; however, only 56% preferred it over in-lab PSG, indicating mixed preferences. Most caregivers found Sonomat easy to use, and a majority reported typical sleep patterns during home monitoring.
Conclusion:
The Sonomat represents a promising contactless tool for screening sleep disordered breathing in children with Down syndrome, particularly in cases where standard PSG is not tolerated. Its ease of use and acceptability suggest value in complementing traditional diagnostics, especially in home settings.
