ISSN: 2167-0277
Jayne Roberts, David J Berlowitz and Jo Spong
Background: A simple, portable measure of daytime sleepiness is the Oxford Sleep Resistance (OSLER-2) test; however its use is limited to those with good hand function. This study modified the OSLER-2 test to assess the measurement of daytime sleepiness using two alternative, non-hand-held response switches.
Methods: The unit was modified to accept the standard hand-held switch, a head-tap switch (“Jelly-bean”) and chin-tap switch (“Wand”). Participants were required to respond to a central LED light presented for one second every three seconds. It terminated following either seven consecutive missed responses (participant asleep) or forty minutes (maximum test length, “performance time”). Twenty-two able-bodied participants with no diagnosed sleep disorders were sleep restricted prior to three testing days where switch order was randomized. The test was performed four times over each day. Sleep latency, performance times and errors were recorded along with video of the switch use.
Results: Sleep latency was longer with the Wand (M=1265 sec (546)) than the Jelly-bean (M=1102 (544)) and hand-held switch (M=1037 sec (557), p