The tongue region (the lower part of the throat, also called the hypopharynx) is a common site of airway obstruction, affecting approximately 60% of patients according to some estimates. While patients are awake, the muscles that surround the throat maintain this area open for breathing, but during sleep these muscles can relax and lead to narrowing or complete blockage in this area. Based on the available scientific literature and our ongoing research, we believe that patient evaluation plays an important role in identifying patients that may benefit more or less from specific surgical and non-surgical treatments. The process of selecting among procedures and predicting outcomes is far from perfect, but members of the Division of Sleep Surgery are playing an active role in advancing sleep surgery, including educating patients and practicing physicians about how best to use the available procedures to improve outcomes.