Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS): Measuring Sleepiness

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a widely used questionnaire to measure excessive daytime sleepiness. It helps doctors screen for sleep disorders. This simple test asks about your likelihood of dozing off or falling asleep in eight specific situations that most people encounter in their daily routine. You rate each scenario on a scale from zero to three. A zero means you would never doze, while a three indicates a high chance of falling asleep. The total score goes from zero up to twenty four to indicate the overall severity of your sleepiness. Clinicians frequently use it to screen for common issues like obstructive sleep apnoea or narcolepsy. It is quick to complete and helps track progress after treatment starts. Because it relies on subjective reporting, doctors often pair it with other clinical tests to make sure they get a full diagnosis.