Self Test

Do you have a snoring problem?

The following test will give you an indication of whether or not your snoring problem is serious enough to seek medical attention. Results from this test are suggestion only and do not serve as a replacement for proper medical advice.

Complete questions 1-20 below, then click "Snore Score"

1. Do you snore every night?
Yes
No

2. Are you a loud snorer?
Yes
No

3. Have you ever been told that you stop breathing during your sleep?
Yes
No

4. Do you ever wake up short of breath during sleep?
Yes
No

5. Are you restless during sleep?
Yes
No

6. Do you wake up tired, even after a full nights sleep?
Yes
No

7. Are you drowsy in the afternoon?
Yes
No

8. Do you feel tired after lunchtime?
Yes
No

9. Do you fall asleep easily during the day?
Yes
No

10. Have you ever fallen asleep while driving?
Yes
No

11. Have you ever arrived home without memory of the trip?
Yes
No

12. Has your partner or spouse moved to another room to sleep?
Yes
No

13. Are you depressed?
Yes
No

14. Are you irritable on waking in the morning, or during the day?
Yes
No

15. Do you have high blood pressure?
Yes
No

16. Do you have trouble breathing through the nose?
Yes
No

17. Do you suffer from any allergies?
Yes
No

18. Do you suffer from indigestion or heartburn?
Yes
No

19. Do you smoke?
Yes
No

20. Do you perform regular physical exercise?
Yes
No

You have:

Interpreting The Score

35 or more
You are usually noisy at night and likely to disturb others. Your health could be suffering from the occurrences during your sleep. If you wish to seek medical attention, we recommend that you print a copy of this completed page and take it with you to your primary care physician for an ENT specialist referral. If you would like medical specialist assistance, please contact us.
Less than 35
Snoring could still be a problem to your partner and others around you. It may be worthwhile to discuss your symptoms with your regular doctor. If you would like medical specialist assistance, please contact us.

Evaluating daytime sleepiness

After a normal nights' sleep, lie down every two hours throughout the next day, say at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Each time hold a set of keys between two fingers over the side of the bed or sofa when you lie down. When you fall asleep, the keys will drop, and the noise will wake you up. Have a clock in view. If the keys drop in less than five minutes or you fall asleep at more than one test, you probably have excessive daytime sleepiness or even narcolepsy.

Try getting two hours more sleep each night for the next week (some people are sleepy in the day simply because they aren't getting enough sleep), then try the tests again. If you are still excessively sleepy, you should seek help at a sleep disorders center.

Using recording equipment

You can try using an audio and or video tape to record snoring during sleep. The bedpartner may want to start the tape as the snoring begins. Video recording would give the doctor a more complete picture of what your snoring is really like. In just a few minutes, a sleep specialist can determine if you do or do not have sleep apnea.

Making a snore log

Some people find it helpful to keep a "snoring log." To do this have your bed partner keep track of your snoring over several different nights and under different conditions (including allergy symptoms, colds and nasal congestion), carefully documenting the rate and loudness of snoring and the number of episodes of apnea, if any. Then you can compare the severity of your snoring at different times to see if there is a correlation to circumstances such as whether you do or do not drink in the evening, or do or do not take a sleeping pill, or whether there is a difference when you have gained or lost weight. Remember, the bed partner must make the snore log, not the snorer, because snorers are often unaware of their snoring.