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Health Risk Assessments

Could you have a sleep disorder?

Do you feel drowsy during the day and have an overwhelming urge to fall asleep even after a full night’s rest? Excessive daytime sleepiness is not normal. In fact, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or other sleep disorders may be to blame. Find out whether you are too sleepy by rating your level of drowsiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale–the same assessment tool used by the National Sleep Foundation and other sleep experts worldwide.

Each item describes a routine daytime situation. Use the scale below to rate the likelihood that you would doze off or fall asleep (in contrast to just feeling tired) during that activity. If you haven't done some of these activities recently, consider how you think they would affect you. Please note that this assessment should not be used to make your own diagnosis but rather to help you identify your level of daytime sleepiness, which can be a symptom of a sleep disorder. Only your doctor can provide a diagnosis.

Choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

0 = would never doze
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing

Sitting and reading

0  1  2  3 

Watching television

0  1  2  3 

Sitting inactive in a public place, like a theater or meeting

0  1  2  3 

Riding as a passenger in a car for an hour without a break

0  1  2  3 

Lying down to rest in the afternoon

0  1  2  3 

Sitting and talking to someone

0  1  2  3 

Sitting quietly after lunch

0  1  2  3 

Sitting in a car, while stopped in traffic

0  1  2  3