Questionnaires
A doctor may administer certain questionnaires on sleeping habits.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) uses a simple questionnaire to measure excessive sleepiness. It is proving to be a very accurate measure for assessing narcolepsy.
THE EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE |
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SITUATION |
CHANCE OF DOZING 0 = no chance of dozing 1 = slight chance of dozing 2 = moderate chance of dozing 3 = high chance of dozing |
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Sitting and reading |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
Watching TV |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
Sitting inactive in a public place (a theater or a meeting) |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
Sitting and talking to someone |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic |
(Indicate a score of 0 to 3) |
|
SCORE RESULTS |
1-6: Getting enough sleep 4-8: Tends to be sleepy but is average 9-15: Very sleepy and should seek medical advice Over 16: Dangerously sleepy |
Multiple Sleep Latency Test. The multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) uses a machine that measures the time it takes to fall asleep lying in a quiet room during the day. The patient takes 4 or 5 scheduled naps 2 hours apart. People with healthy sleep habits fall asleep in about 10 to 20 minutes. In patients with narcolepsy, polysomnography plus MSLT will show a much shorter duration of time (less than 8 minutes) from wakefulness into sleep. At least 2 of the naps are REM-onset (the active sleep phase associated dreaming). The test has limitations, however, and is most useful for measuring the severity of the problem. The Epworth sleepiness scale may be more accurate in differentiating narcolepsy from normal daytime sleepiness.
Polysomnography
An overnight polysomnography (sleep study) can be a valuable means for determining the basic cause of sleepiness. The patient arrives at the sleep center about two hours before bedtime without having made any changes in daily habits. The patient is hooked up to a battery of monitoring devices:
- Electroencephalogram, or EEG (monitors the electrical activity of the brain)
- Electrocardiogram or ECG (monitors the heart)
- Electromyogram (monitors the movements of muscles)
- Electrooculogram (monitors eye movements)
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