What is excessive daytime sleepiness disorder and how is it diagnosed?

Excessive daytime sleepiness is when someone feels very sleepy during the day, even when they have had enough sleep at night. This can make it hard to do everyday things like school or work. Doctors figure out if someone has this by asking about their sleep habits and how sleepy they feel during the day.

Diagnosis Steps:

1. Sleep History: The doctor will ask questions about how the person sleeps, when they go to bed, how long they sleep, and if they wake up during the night.
2. Sleep Diary: Sometimes, the doctor might ask the person to keep a sleep diary to track sleep patterns.
3. Special Tests: If needed, the doctor might do special tests. These could include a sleep study, where the person sleeps overnight in a special center, or a test called the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) to see how quickly they fall asleep during the day.

These steps help the doctor understand why someone is feeling sleepy and decide the best way to help them feel better.