Foremost among these dilemmas are applying
parameters ofwhat isconsidered“pathologic sleepiness”
for a person across time as well as between
persons. Similar to sleep deprivation, hypersomnia
is associated with significant intra- and interindividual
variability in performance deficits and subjective
impairment. Vulnerability to occupational,
academic, and social consequences also differs
based, in large measure, to daily tasks that have to
be accomplished and the subjective demands on
living that have to be met. Thus, what could be
considered clinically inconsequential hypersomnia
for a specific individual at a specific period of time
may be critical either for the same person at
a different time period or for other individuals.