Sleep-tracking wearables and apps no substitute for sleep tests

When it comes to identifying the difference between light sleep and deep sleep, research has shown that fitness trackers are not accurate. Rather than relying on your device to measure how well you sleep, consider basing your assessment of sleep quality on how you feel when you wake up. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Sleep-tracking devices and mobile apps can help engage users in improving sleep health, but none of the consumer technologies has been proven accurate or validated to screen for sleep disorders, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said in a new statement. 

Still, the technologies are generating consumer interest in sleep quality, which is a positive trend, the AASM board of directors writes in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.