Diagnosing Hypersomnia

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on September 22, 2023
1 min read

If you consistently feel drowsy during the day, talk to your doctor. You may be suffering from a sleep disorder called hypersomnia, which causes excessive daytime sleepiness.

To determine the cause of your sleepiness, your doctor will ask about your sleeping habits, how much sleep you get at night, if you wake up at night, and whether you fall asleep during the day. Your doctor will also want to know if you are having any emotional problems or are taking any medications that may be interfering with your sleep or may be causing you to feel sleepy during the day. You may also be asked to keep a sleep diary.

Your doctor may also suggest the following tests:

  • Blood tests to rule out underlying conditions such as anemia (low blood count) or a sluggish thyroid
  • Computed tomography (CT) or MRI scans to rule out neurological issues such as multiple sclerosis
  • Polysomnography, a sleep test used to help determine the cause of many sleep problems
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG), a test which measures the electrical activity of the brain