The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a test used to measure daytime sleepiness and evaluate people with sleep disorders. Patients answer a series of self-reported questions, with scores of 10 or higher indicating excessive daytime sleepiness. The test was devised by Dr. Murray Johns in the 1990s and is used worldwide in clinical settings. It provides standardized care and allows doctors to monitor a patient’s condition over time. Online questionnaires are available, but a doctor’s evaluation may still be necessary.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a rating test used to measure daytime sleepiness. People with high levels of daytime sleepiness may suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea. The test can be used to evaluate people with sleep disorders and to follow up on a patient who has received treatment for a sleep disorder. It consists of a series of self-reported questions to which the patient answers.
On the test, the patient is asked to report the likelihood of dozing or falling asleep in a number of situations. Responses are numbered from zero to three to indicate whether falling asleep is very unlikely or highly likely. Answers are tallied at the end for a single numerical score. Average scores for adults are about six, while scores of 10 or higher indicate a patient has excessive daytime sleepiness.
Examples of situations on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale include: watching television, sitting quietly after an alcohol-free lunch, sitting and reading, lying down to rest, and being the driver of a car that is temporarily stopped in traffic. The test was devised by Australian physician Dr. Murray Johns in the early 1990s as an assessment tool for patients who appear to suffer from daytime sleepiness. It is used worldwide in a variety of clinical settings.
The advantage of using a test of this nature, rather than simply asking patients to report if they experience daytime sleepiness, is that it presents patients with common situations and prompts concrete answers, increasing the chances that patients will report accurately. It also creates a score that can be compared to other patients and recorded in a patient’s record, allowing a doctor to monitor a patient’s condition over time. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is also useful for providing standardized care, including appropriate interventions for patients experiencing daytime sleepiness.
Several websites host comprehensive Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires that people can use to self-assess whether they are concerned about daytime sleepiness. It’s important to be aware that an evaluation by a doctor may still be needed even if the score is low. If a person scores high on the Epworth sleepiness scale, it’s a good idea to make an appointment to see a doctor about daytime sleepiness for further evaluation. The doctor can perform diagnostic tests to learn more about why the patient is experiencing sleepiness and provide patients with treatment options.
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