Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is not a “Sleep Disorder”, but it is often the negative result of a sleep disorder. It is frequently an indication of the degree to which a sleep disorder or another medical problem is negatively affecting the child/adolescent’s daytime alertness. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is not as noticeable in younger children as adolescents because adults expect young children to sleep more at night and take daytime naps. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is often characterized not only by sleepiness, but by behavioral deterioration, irritability, yelling, lack of motivation, or defiance in doing parental requests when the child or adolescent has the capability of doing the requested task.

If napping is occurring frequently during the daytime, adults need to monitor how often naps occur, how long naps last, how easy is it to awaken the child or teen, and whether s/he appears to be refreshed after the nap or continues to be tired. Teachers need to report this information to parents, and the parent may need to ask the teachers if they have noticed lots of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in school if they are seeing it at home. If teachers confirm this problem at school, then the parent needs to consult with the pediatrician or a sleep specialist when excessive daytime sleepiness is occurring.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness can be a sign of the existence of a major sleep disorder such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), Narcolepsy (NARC), or another sleep disorder. In rare situations, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness can be caused by other medical disorders such as nocturnal seizures, Kleine-Levin Syndrome, Menstrual-Associated Periodic Hypersomnia, Idiopathic Central Nervous System Hypersomnia, etc. The above-mentioned sleep disorders and medical conditions can only be diagnosed by a sleep specialist or other medical professionals and may warrant further investigation if your child is exhibiting excessive daytime sleepiness.

On the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students - Adolescent Form, if the Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Narcolepsy scales are elevated, but not the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Scale, then there is a possibility that this adolescent might have the beginning signs of Narcolepsy. Both Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Narcolepsy are very serious, harmful sleep disorders that need immediate treatment before serious health problems, school problems, or harmful accidents occur to your child or teen.

If you would NOW like to screen your child / teen for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and other major pediatric sleep disorders with the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students, please click onto “Screen Child” below: