At a glance
Number of items: 8 questions (daytime situations).
Completion time: ~2 minutes.
1. What is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a short, self-administered questionnaire that measures a person’s general level of daytime sleepiness by asking how likely they are to doze in eight everyday situations. The ESS captures the individuals:
- Average (usual) tendency to doze during the day, rather than just feeling tired.
- Daytime sleepiness across eight common situations (e.g. sitting and reading, watching TV, sitting in a meeting, as a passenger in a car, lying down to rest, sitting and talking, sitting quietly after a meal, stopped in traffic).
- The impact of sleep quality, sleep quantity, shift work and sleep disorders on daytime alertness.
Clinically, it helps differentiate normal levels of sleepiness from excessive daytime sleepiness that may need intervention.
2. How is it scored?
Scoring is straightforward and designed for routine use:
Each of the 8 items is rated from 0 to 3:
0 = would never doze
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing
Total ESS score = sum of item scores (range 0–24). Higher scores indicate greater daytime sleepiness.
Common interpretation in adults:
0–5: Lower normal daytime sleepiness
6–10: Normal daytime sleepiness
11–12: Mild excessive daytime sleepiness
13–15: Moderate excessive daytime sleepiness
16–24: Severe excessive daytime sleepiness
In general, a score above 10 suggests excessive daytime sleepiness and should prompt clinical review in the context of the person’s history, work pattern, medications and comorbidities.
3. How do I interpret change over time?
Improvement: A reduction of 2–3 points or more, particularly when moving from ≥11 into the normal range, can indicate a meaningful reduction in daytime sleepiness.
Persistent high scores: Persistently elevated scores (e.g. ≥11, or in the moderate/severe bands) despite intervention should prompt reassessment of diagnosis, treatment adherence, comorbid conditions and safety risks (e.g. driving, operating machinery).