CALCULATE YOUR LEVEL OF SLEEPINESS

Sleepiness

Healthy adults may experience sleepiness at their normal bedtime or even mid-afternoon. Daytime sleepiness is considered excessive when it occurs at unusual times.

Excessive daytime sleepiness directly affects the individual and also those close to him or her. Sleepiness can have serious consequences, be it personal, family or professional.


Epworth Sleepiness Scale

Sleepiness can be measured objectively in the laboratory and subjectively by autoquestionnaire. Objective sleepiness is measured by the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) and requires polysomnography. Usually, subjective sleepiness is measure by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The ESS is a simple and short duration tool assessing the probability of falling asleep in various situations. ESS score may decrease with appropriate positive pressure treatment.

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep during the following situations, in contrast to just feeling tired? If a situation never or rarely occurs, give your best guess for that situation.

The choices are assigned the following values:
Level of sleepiness (0 to 3):
0 = no chance of dozing
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing

A. Sitting and reading
B. Watching TV
C. Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g. in a theatre or a meeting)
D. As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
E. Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
F. Sitting and talking to someone
G. Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
H. In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic

The scores for your choices are summed.

Total: ___


Results

Your score is ___:

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale gives an overall assessment of daytime sleepiness, on a scale of 0 to 24.

NOTE: A sum between 8 and 10, does not rule out the presence of a sleep disorder


If you have any signs of sleepiness, please consult your physician


References:
Krieger, J. “Assessment of the Sleepy Patient,” Breathing Disorders in Sleep. McNicholas WT and Phillipson EA editors. Saunders WB, 2002: 18-28.

Johns, MW. “A New Method for Measuring Daytime Sleepiness: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.” Sleep. 14, 6 (1991): 540-5.