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The Epworth Sleepiness Scale
The best office test is the eight-question Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to feeling just tired? This referes to your usual way of life, in recent times.
Even if you have not done some of these things recently, try to work out how they would have affected you had they occurred.
Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:
- 0 = no chance of dozing
- 1 = slight chance of dozing
- 2 = moderate chance of dozing
- 3 = high chance of dozing
Jot your answers down on a piece of paper, and total your score.
Situation
Chance of Dozing
Sitting and reading
Choose 0-3
Watching TV
Choose 0-3
Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g a theatre or a meeting.)
Choose 0-3
As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
Choose 0-3
Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
Choose 0-3
Sitting and Talking to someone
Choose 0-3
Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
Choose 0-3
In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic
Choose 0-3
To check your sleepiness score, total the points.
Note: Anyone who scores higher than 10 on the Epworth Scale, and especially anyone with suspected obstructive sleep apnea, should have further testing
Excessive daytime sleepiness combined with either obesity or snoring warrants further investigation with sleep study.
A key question is whether a person with excessive daytime sleepiness actually falls asleep in inappropriate situations, or merely feels tired.