How to use it
- For each of the eight situations, think of your usual life recently, not just yesterday.
- Pick 0 (would never doze), 1 (slight chance), 2 (moderate chance) or 3 (high chance of dozing).
- Read the total and its band. Nothing is sent anywhere.
How the score works
The eight answers are added, so the total runs from 0 to 24.
| Score | Daytime sleepiness |
|---|---|
| 0–5 | Lower normal |
| 6–10 | Higher normal |
| 11–12 | Mild excessive |
| 13–15 | Moderate excessive |
| 16–24 | Severe excessive |
Worked example
Answers 2, 2, 1, 2, 3, 0, 2, 0 add up to 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 12, mild excessive daytime sleepiness. Being slightly more likely to doze while talking to someone (1 instead of 0) would make it 13, moderate.
Tips
- The question is about dozing off, not about feeling tired or low on energy.
- Answer about a typical week; a single short night can make you sleepier than usual.
- If someone shares your bed, ask whether they notice loud snoring or pauses in breathing, and mention it to your doctor.
- The scale measures sleepiness; it does not say what causes it. This page is informational only.
Source
Johns MW. A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth sleepiness scale. Sleep. 1991;14(6):540–545. The scale is © M. W. Johns.