Sleep medicine includes both the study of the physiological principles that underpin sleep and management of disorders of sleep. Sleep medicine is a non-organ based, cross-disciplinary specialty. It is characterised by a substantial and rapidly expanding scientific knowledge base. The maintenance of health across the ages is critically dependant on obtaining adequate sleep. Acute and chronic sleep deprivation is associated with a range of adverse neurobehavioral, endocrine, and cardiovascular outcomes. The socioeconomic costs of sleep disorders are often underestimated.

Sleep medicine specialists address the health care needs of the community by:

  • promoting safe, healthy sleep and sleep-optimisation practices for children and young people
  • providing information for industry, educational authorities, and governmental regulatory authorities on the impact of sleep disorders on academic achievement and workplace and road safety, which affects both children and carers.

Sleep medicine specialists possess special clinical skills, such as:

Recognising how sleep affects health and daily functioning. Sleep is a key component of normal and neurocognitive development in infants, children, and adolescents. It plays an important role by impacting other systems during pivotal stages of development throughout childhood. Sleep deprivation is endemic in western societies; health implications include mood disturbance, negative neurocognitive correlates, cardiovascular morbidity / hypertension, accidents / injuries, increased insulin resistance, and other neuroendocrine disturbance.

Diagnosing, investigating, and managing individuals with sleep disorders. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3) includes seven major categories of sleep disorders. Patients with sleep disorders undergo special assessments which include a combination of clinical evaluation and sleep monitoring, and the subsequent application of treatment modalities using various interventions, including medications, medical devices, surgical procedures, education, and behavioural techniques. Sleep disorders can also form a part of other system disorders or genetic / developmental syndromes; assessment, investigation, and treatment of these conditions will also include management of sleep disorders in these children.

Providing longitudinal care. Sleep disorders occur in a variety of patients, from children to the elderly. Effective treatments are available for most sleep disorders, but they rely on the accurate identification of the disorder and health professionals who are skilled in their application. Thus, sleep medicine physicians play a central role in delivery of health care to patients of all ages with primary and secondary sleep disorders.

Sleep medicine specialists have specific professional skills, including:

  • Applying a multidisciplinary approach

    Sleep medicine specialists work collaboratively with other health professionals that are part of the sleep medicine team, as well as other disciplines in primary and tertiary health settings.

  • Working sensitively with a variety of patients

    Sleep medicine specialists develop an ability to deal with children suffering with sleep disorders, and their parents, in a professional and empathetic manner.

  • Strong communication skills

    Sleep medicine specialists must develop an empathetic interviewing technique and an ability to relate to patients from all walks of life. It is also essential that they appreciate when referral to a more appropriate or more qualified practitioner in a particular subspecialty is necessary.

  • Managing resources for the benefit of patients and communities

    Sleep medicine specialists apply a biopsychosocial approach to ensure the delivery of efficient, cost-effective, and safe care for the benefit of their patients and communities.

  • Application of a scholarly approach

    Sleep medicine specialists conduct academic research to discover better ways of understanding, diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. They apply research to improve the management of patients.

Last modified: Wednesday, 20 August 2025, 3:45 PM