Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the PLAB Test with interactive quizzes and comprehensive study materials. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and detailed explanations. Start studying today!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What diagnostic test is used for sleep apnea?

Chest X-ray
Polysomnography
CT scan of the lungs
Sleep diary

The correct answer is: Polysomnography

Polysomnography is the diagnostic test used for sleep apnea because it is a comprehensive evaluation conducted overnight in a sleep lab or at home. This test records various physiological parameters during sleep, such as brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing patterns, and muscle activity. By capturing this data, polysomnography can identify interruptions in breathing and other abnormalities that are characteristic of sleep apnea. The other options, while they may provide some information about respiratory health or sleep patterns, do not have the specificity or capability to diagnose sleep apnea. A chest X-ray can show lung conditions but does not provide direct information about sleep patterns or apnea events. A CT scan of the lungs is useful for visualizing lung structures but again lacks the functionality to assess sleep-related breathing disorders. A sleep diary can help track sleep patterns and potential symptoms but cannot confirm a diagnosis, as it relies on subjective reporting rather than objective measurement.