😴 Epworth Sleepiness Scale Assessment Simulator

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale Questionnaire

A short self-report tool measuring daytime dozing tendency.

• 8: Items scored (everyday situations)
• 0–24: Score range (per situation 0–3)
• 1991: Published (Dr. Murray Johns)
• ~2 min: Time to take (self-administered)

What it measures

Chance of dozing, not just feeling tired.

How it is scored

Each situation rated 0 (never) to 3 (high chance).

Why it matters

Flags excessive daytime sleepiness needing follow-up.

Low Scores — Minimal Daytime Sleepiness

Dozing stays unlikely across nearly every situation.

• 0–7: Typical total (normal range)
• Low: Sleep debt (well rested)
• Minimal: OSA signal (low pretest odds)
• None: Action needed (routine follow-up)

What low scores look like

Every situation rated 0 or 1.

Physiological baseline

Regular sleep, low apnea burden.

Clinical read

No referral typically warranted here.

Moderate Scores — Some Situations Trigger Dozing

Passive situations begin producing real dozing risk.

• 8–15: Typical total (mild to moderate)
• 2–4: Trigger sites (passive settings)
• Rising: OSA signal (worth monitoring)
• Track: Action needed (symptom diary)

Pattern shift

Reading and TV start scoring 2 or higher.

Common cause

Fragmented sleep from mild airway narrowing.

Clinical read

Consider a sleep history at next visit.

High Scores — Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Most situations, even active ones, now trigger dozing.

• 16–24: Typical total (severe range)
• 6–8: Trigger sites (nearly all items)
• High: OSA signal (strong pretest odds)
• Refer: Action needed (sleep study advised)

Pattern shift

Even traffic and talking now score 2–3.

Common cause

Repeated apnea events fragment deep sleep.

Clinical read

Polysomnography referral is recommended.

Score Interpretation — From Total to Referral

The total score converts into an OSA likelihood estimate.

• 0–7: Normal (no excess sleepiness)
• 8–9: Mild (monitor symptoms)
• 10–15: Moderate (evaluate further)
• 16–24: Severe (refer for sleep study)

Reading the total

Sum all 8 item scores, 0 to 24.

Mapping to risk

Higher totals correlate with higher OSA odds.

Next step

Scores above 10 typically prompt referral.

Score band summary