I’m working on an iPhone app that records snoring/breathing sounds overnight and shows a simple report in the morning.
I know this cannot diagnose sleep apnea or replace a sleep study. I’m more curious whether audio clips and a timeline could help someone realize “this is worth asking a doctor about.”
For those who have been tested for sleep apnea, would it have helped to bring recordings or a few nights of snoring patterns to your doctor?
Or would that kind of app data mostly be noise unless it comes from a real sleep test?
Trying to build this carefully and avoid making it sound more medical than it really is.
Just my opinion, but I’m skeptical of how useful an app like this would be.
If you have a partner, they’re usually able to share that you were snoring, and there were pauses when you weren’t breathing. If you don’t have a partner, or your partner isn’t aware of any snoring, you could probably try recording for a hour or two at bedtime. Even aside from snoring, people “should” be willing to say something to their primary care doctor if they’re sleeping six-plus hours at night yet still feeling tired and/or falling asleep during the day.
I think recordings can be useful as a starting point, especially for people who sleep alone. They can’t diagnose sleep apnea, but they may help someone notice a pattern and decide it’s time to discuss it with their doctor. As long as the app clearly explains its limits, it could provide helpful context.
Yes, clear audio clips of interrupted snoring would have helped me bring it up with the doctor. Not a diagnosis, just useful evidence that something is worth checking.