Snoring & sleep apnoea (OSAS) | De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen

Do you snore loudly, nod off during the day, or has your partner noticed that you sometimes stop breathing in your sleep? We carefully find out whether sleep…

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Request a referral Treatment options On this page The complaint in brief Recognisable symptoms What we assess Lifestyle tips Treatment options What to expect Frequently asked questions The complaint in brief From harmless snoring to sleep apnoea Snoring happens when the upper airway narrows partly during sleep and the soft tissue starts to vibrate. This is often bothersome for your partner, but otherwise harmless. With obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) the airway repeatedly closes completely for a short moment. You briefly stop breathing each time, wake very briefly without noticing, and never reach deep sleep. As a result you feel tired and poorly rested during the day. Left untreated, sleep apnoea can in time also strain your heart and blood pressure. Loud snoring combined with breathing pauses, morning headaches or daytime sleepiness is reason to have it assessed. Your GP can refer you to us. Recognisable symptoms Do you recognise this? Often it is your partner and those around you who notice the first signs. These complaints frequently occur together in sleep apnoea. Loud, irregular snoring With audible breathing pauses and gasping for air. Daytime sleepiness Nodding off in front of the TV, while reading or behind the wheel. Waking unrested Morning headaches and a dry mouth or throat. Concentration & mood Irritability, forgetfulness or low mood. Waking & needing the toilet Restless nights and getting up several times. Raised blood pressure Sleep apnoea and high blood pressure are often linked. What we assess Careful diagnostics, at home in your own bed We first map out how severe the complaints are and whether further assessment is needed. This lets us choose a treatment that fits your situation. 01 · Consultation Conversation & ENT examination We discuss your symptoms and sleep pattern and use a videoscope to look for a visible cause in the nose and throat. 02 · WatchPAT Sleep measurement at home With the WatchPAT you measure your breathing, oxygen and sleep at home for one night. Comfortable, in your own bed. WatchPAT: sleep study at home You take the device home directly and fit it yourself: a sleeve on the finger, a sticker electrode on the chest and the measuring watch on the wrist. After one night you return the device to us; the data is read out and discussed in the multidisciplinary team (ENT specialist and pulmonologist-somnologist/sleep specialist), after which the ENT specialist discusses the result with you. WatchPAT measures Breathing & breathing pauses Snoring sounds & movement Heart rate & oxygen level Sleep position We assess the result together with dr. Dunja Schmidt , pulmonologist-somnologist. This way both an ENT specialist and a sleep specialist look at your situation. Do it yourself General lifestyle tips Stop smoking Avoid being overweight Sleep on your back as little as possible Don't drink alcohol in the evening Avoid sedating medication Treatment options The treatment that suits you There is no standard solution. Depending on the findings, we discuss one of these options together — sometimes a combination. For mild complaints Positional therapy Snoring and apnoea are often position-dependent. If this mainly occurs lying on your back, a small vibrating device (e.g. Philips NightBalance) can gently train you to keep sleeping on your side. Supply and guidance via Vivisol . Mild to moderate Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) A custom-made oral appliance that holds your lower jaw slightly forward at night, so the throat stays open. This is fitted by an NVTS-accredited dentist. We collaborate with several practices in the region. Moderate to severe CPAP A small device with a mask keeps your airway open all night with gentle overpressure — the most effective treatment for severe apnoea. Guidance and supply via Vivisol . If the narrowing is local Surgical treatment If the airway narrows, a procedure on the nose, soft palate, tongue, jaw or neck may be possible. We discuss whether you're a candidate. When CPAP doesn't work Inspire (hypoglossal nerve stimulation) For a select group of patients: a small implant that activates the tongue nerve to keep the airway open. Only carried out in specialised centres. We discuss whether you're a candidate. What to expect How your care unfolds Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation and ENT examination. You sleep one night with the WatchPAT and return it to us. We discuss the results and choose a suitable treatment together. You start the treatment; we keep monitoring and adjusting the effect with you. Who treats you One dedicated ENT specialist, together with a sleep specialist You are supported personally and keep the same doctor throughout your care. dr. Anne-Martine de Heer ENT specialist BIG 19066557501 dr. Dunja Schmidt Pulmonologist-somnologist BIG 59052036201 Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions {{ f.q }} {{ f.sign }} {{ f.a }} Make an appointment Ready to have your sleep assessed? For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral for a sleep study is needed. Usually this arrives with us digitally; we then contact you ourselves to schedule an appointment. Get in touch Information for referrers How to arrange a referral Discuss your sle
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Home / ENT care / Snoring & sleep apnoea
Sleep & snoring

Snoring & sleep apnoea (OSAS)

Do you snore loudly, nod off during the day, or has your partner noticed that you sometimes stop breathing in your sleep? We carefully find out whether sleep apnoea is involved and discuss which treatment suits you.

Request a referral Treatment options
The complaint in brief

From harmless snoring to sleep apnoea

Snoring happens when the upper airway narrows partly during sleep and the soft tissue starts to vibrate. This is often bothersome for your partner, but otherwise harmless.

With obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) the airway repeatedly closes completely for a short moment. You briefly stop breathing each time, wake very briefly without noticing, and never reach deep sleep. As a result you feel tired and poorly rested during the day. Left untreated, sleep apnoea can in time also strain your heart and blood pressure.

Loud snoring combined with breathing pauses, morning headaches or daytime sleepiness is reason to have it assessed. Your GP can refer you to us.
Recognisable symptoms

Do you recognise this?

Often it is your partner and those around you who notice the first signs. These complaints frequently occur together in sleep apnoea.

Loud, irregular snoring

With audible breathing pauses and gasping for air.

Daytime sleepiness

Nodding off in front of the TV, while reading or behind the wheel.

Waking unrested

Morning headaches and a dry mouth or throat.

Concentration & mood

Irritability, forgetfulness or low mood.

Waking & needing the toilet

Restless nights and getting up several times.

Raised blood pressure

Sleep apnoea and high blood pressure are often linked.

What we assess

Careful diagnostics, at home in your own bed

We first map out how severe the complaints are and whether further assessment is needed. This lets us choose a treatment that fits your situation.

01 · Consultation

Conversation & ENT examination

We discuss your symptoms and sleep pattern and use a videoscope to look for a visible cause in the nose and throat.
02 · WatchPAT

Sleep measurement at home

With the WatchPAT you measure your breathing, oxygen and sleep at home for one night. Comfortable, in your own bed.
Patient sleeping with WatchPAT sensors on wrist and finger
WatchPAT: sleep study at home

You take the device home directly and fit it yourself: a sleeve on the finger, a sticker electrode on the chest and the measuring watch on the wrist. After one night you return the device to us; the data is read out and discussed in the multidisciplinary team (ENT specialist and pulmonologist-somnologist/sleep specialist), after which the ENT specialist discusses the result with you.

WatchPAT measures
    Breathing & breathing pauses Snoring sounds & movement Heart rate & oxygen level Sleep position

For more information about the WatchPAT, visit www.itamar-medical.com/patients. If anything is unclear, feel free to contact us for a full explanation.

We assess the result together with dr. Dunja Schmidt, a pulmonologist and sleep specialist (somnologist). This way both an ENT specialist and a pulmonologist/sleep specialist look at your situation.
Do it yourself

General lifestyle tips

Stop smoking
Avoid being overweight
Sleep on your back as little as possible
Don't drink alcohol in the evening
Avoid sedating medication
Treatment options

The treatment that suits you

There is no standard solution. Depending on the findings, we discuss one of these options together — sometimes a combination.

For mild complaints

Positional therapy

Snoring and apnoea are often position-dependent. For complaints that mainly occur lying on your back, a snoring belt/position trainer can help: a small device worn on a band around the chest before sleep. Its built-in position sensor gives a gentle vibration when you lie on your back, prompting you to turn onto your side — training you to sleep on your side without disrupting your natural sleep pattern. We use the Philips NightBalance for this, supplied via Vivisol Home Care Services (vivisol.nl).

Mild to moderate

Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)

A custom-made oral appliance that holds your lower jaw slightly forward at night, so the throat stays open. This is fitted by an NVTS-accredited dentist. We collaborate with several practices in the region.

Moderate to severe

CPAP

A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device uses a tube and a custom-fitted mask over the nose (and sometimes the mouth) to blow air into your throat at slight overpressure. This pressure keeps the throat open, reducing breathing pauses and the complaints they cause — the most effective treatment for severe apnoea. We work with Vivisol Home Care Services; more information is available at pap.vivisol.nl.

If the narrowing is local

Surgical treatment

If the airway narrows, a procedure on the nose, soft palate, tongue, jaw or neck may be possible. We discuss whether you're a candidate.

When CPAP doesn't work

Inspire (hypoglossal nerve stimulation)

For a select group of patients: a small implant that activates the tongue nerve to keep the airway open. Only carried out in specialised centres. We discuss whether you're a candidate.

What to expect

How your care unfolds

Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation and ENT examination. You sleep one night with the WatchPAT and return it to us. We discuss the results and choose a suitable treatment together. You start the treatment; we keep monitoring and adjusting the effect with you.
Who treats you

One dedicated ENT specialist, together with a sleep specialist

You are supported personally and keep the same doctor throughout your care.

dr. Anne-Martine de HeerENT specialist
BIG 19066557501
dr. Dunja SchmidtPulmonologist & sleep specialist
BIG 59052036201
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

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Make an appointment

Ready to have your sleep assessed?

For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral for a sleep study is needed. Usually this arrives with us digitally; we then contact you ourselves to schedule an appointment.

Get in touch Information for referrers
How to arrange a referral
    Discuss your sleep complaints with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed We contact you as soon as the referral arrives