Preparing for A Maintenance of Wakefulness Test

DAYTIME SLEEPINESS TESTING

Maintenance of wakefulness tests evaluate how well you can stay awake while being inactive. They evaluate whether they are able to stay awake during daytime hours, or to ensure they can safely perform activities such as driving.  

To prepare for your test, your sleep medicine specialist may recommend you avoid substances that could impact your wakefulness, such as caffeine, tobacco, and certain medications. Some health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, can also impact the results. Be sure to discuss your health history with your sleep medicine provider. Expect the MWT’s to be conducted the day after an overnight sleep study. This allows your doctor to know exactly how well you slept the night before the test.