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Measuring Daytime Sleepiness in Children and Adolescents

Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents (ESS-CHAD)

The ESS-CHAD can help measure your child’s level of daytime sleepiness. Help your child answer the questions below and share the results with your healthcare provider.

Over the last month, how likely have you been to fall asleep while doing the things that are described below (activities)?

Even if you haven’t done some of these things in the last month, try to imagine how they would have affected you.

Activity

Chance of Falling Asleep

Activity/
Chance of Falling Asleep

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance
of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance
of falling asleep

Sitting and reading
Sitting and watching TV or a video
Sitting in a classroom at school
during the morning
Sitting and riding in a car or bus
for about half an hour
Lying down to rest or nap in the
afternoon
Sitting and talking to someone
Sitting quietly by yourself after lunch
Sitting and eating a meal
Sitting and reading 1 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Sitting and watching TV or a video 2 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Sitting in a classroom at school during the morning 3 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Sitting and riding in a car or bus for about half an hour 4 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Lying down to rest or nap in the afternoon 5 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Sitting and talking to someone 6 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Sitting quietly by yourself after lunch 7 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Sitting and eating a meal 8 of 8

Would never fall asleep

Slight chance of falling asleep

Moderate chance of falling asleep

High chance of falling asleep

Higher scores are associated with more daytime sleepiness. You should discuss your child’s responses and score with your healthcare provider.

Total Score = 0

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Your next step

You likely completed a screener because your child is experiencing at least 1 symptom of narcolepsy. While the screener provides useful information about your child’s symptoms, it cannot determine whether your child has narcolepsy. Your next step should be seeing a sleep specialist. Share your child’s score and work with the sleep specialist to decide what you should do next.

Discuss your child’s score with a sleep specialist, who can determine whether your child should undergo narcolepsy testing.

Find a sleep specialist near you