The final episode of the Waking Up Tired - Narcolepsy Symptoms Explained podcast features Dr David Cunnington, a specialist sleep physician and educator, who’s spent over two decades listening to patients and helping decode the complexities of sleep disorders.
David shares what narcolepsy looks like from the other side of the desk, why diagnosis takes time, how clinicians think through sleepiness, and what makes narcolepsy with cataplexy so uniquely difficult to identify. The importance of narrative history, the key disorders of hypersomnolence including Narcolepsy (Types 1 and 2) and Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH), and the diagnostic tools that help distinguish narcolepsy from its many mimics.
David also offers guidance for healthcare providers and patients alike, reminding us that expertise isn’t always the goal. Openness, curiosity, and collaboration are.
Episode eight is about bridging understanding, validating the lived experience of sleepiness and offering insight into the systems that shape diagnosis and care. Whether you’re living with narcolepsy, supporting someone who is, or working in healthcare, this episode is for you.
About David Cunnington:
David undertook training in sleep medicine both in Australia and in Boston at Harvard Medical School as part of completing his specialist medical training as a specialist sleep physician. In addition to training in sleep medicine, David has international qualifications in behavioural sleep medicine being a Diplomat Behavioural Sleep Medicine (US Board of Behavioural Sleep Medicine), which means he is expert in using non-drug treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy to manage sleep problems. David is expert in the measurement and interpretation of sleep data and using this data to better understand people’s sleep and sleep problems and plan management.
David sees people at Sunshine Coast Respiratory & Sleep, in Birtinya and Noosa, and sees people from around Australia via Telehealth.
Podcast Host/Creator: Di Spillane
David Cunnington Links
https://drdavidcunnington.com.au/
Sunshine Coast Respiratory and Sleep
https://www.screspiratorysleep.com.au/david-cunnington
Dr David Cunnington: Sleep Specialist –SleepHub
https://sleephub.com.au/about-us/dr-david-cunnington-specialist-sleep-physician/
Thank you for listening.
Di Spillane