Divided Attention Steering Simulator Alertness Test

Driving simulator programmes are used under a wide range of conditions, and a correlation of driving performance and real accident risks in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome(OSAS)could be shown. The most frequently used driving simulator is the Divided Attention Steering Simulator (DASS) of Stowood Scientific Instruments Ltd. (SSI). Until today there are no reference levels with regards to sex and age in existence. To define the boundaries of normality age and sex reference values are to be generated and compared to values of patients with OSAS. 50 male and 50 female healthy subjects (10 of each age decade between 20 and 70 years) will perform the DASS for 30 minutes. In the other arm 100 OSAS Patients will perform the test as well. A better differentiation of pathologic driving performance and response times of OSAS patients should be possible with new reference levels.