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Tracking Excessive Daytime Sleepiness: ESS

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a validated screening tool for assessing daytime sleepiness

The is a short, self-administered questionnaire designed to measure sleep propensity in a simple, standardized way (only 8 questions on a total scale of 0 to 24).1

ESS: Used to measure excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adults

0Would never doze

1Slight chance of "dozing"

2Moderate chance of "dozing"

3High chance of "dozing"

SituationChance of dozing
Sitting and reading

0123

Watching TV

0123

Sitting inactive in a public place (eg, a theater or meeting)

0123

As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break

0123

Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit

0123

Sitting and talking with someone

0123

Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol

0123

In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic

0123

The total score (out of 24) proved capable of distinguishing individuals and diagnostic groups over a range of daytime sleepiness conditions.1

  • An score of >10 indicates excessive daytime sleepiness1
  • scores ≥16, indicating high levels of daytime sleepiness, were found in patients with IH of at least moderate severity. Patients with IH had higher scores than controls1

Although the is an established assessment tool, it was not specifically designed for IH.1

You can start using this tool to help assess your patients’ daytime sleepiness today.

Download the ESS

Need a way to assess IH symptom severity and frequency over time?

ESS © MW Johns 1990-1997. Used under License.

Reference:

  1. Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep. 1991;14(6):540-545.

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