The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is widely used in the field of sleep medicine as a subjective measure of a patient's sleepiness. The test is a list of eight situations in which you rate your tendency to become sleepy on a scale of 0 (no chance of dozing) to 3 (high chance of dozing). When you finish the test, add up the values of your responses. Your total score is based on a scale of 0 to 24. The scale estimates whether you are experiencing excessive sleepiness that possibly requires medical attention.
How Sleepy Are You?
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations? You should rate your chances of dozing off, not just feeling tired. Even if you have not done some of these things recently, try to determine how they would have affected you. For each situation, decide whether or not you would have:
- No chance of dozing = 0
- Slight chance of dozing = 1
- Moderate chance of dozing = 2
- High chance of dozing = 3
Write down the number corresponding to your choice right next to the following situations. Total your score below.
Situation Chance of Dozing
- Sitting and reading
- Watching TV
- Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g., a theater or a meeting)
- As a passenger in a car fo ran hour without a break
- Lying dow to rest in the afternoon when circumswtances permit
- Sitting and talking to someone
- Sitting quietly after a lunch withut alcohol
- In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic
Total Score = ___________________
Analyze Your Score
Interpretation:
0-7: It is unlikely that you are abnormally sleepy.
8-9: You have an average amount of daytime sleepiness.
10-15: You may be excessively sleepy depending on the situation. You may want to consider seeking medical attention.
16-24: You are excessively sleepy and should consider seeking medical attention.
Reference: Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep 1991; 14(6):540-5.
This version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale is provided courtesy of Talk About Sleep, Inc.