Flashcards for:
Understanding the NIH Stroke Scale

Through comparison of sensations on both sides of the body using a cotton-tipped applicator to identify dullness or numbness.

To quantify neurological deficits in stroke patients and facilitate communication, as well as help identify patients for emergent treatment.

Because a low score may still indicate a significant disability and impact the patient’s capability to perform daily activities and career responsibilities.

Alertness, ability to answer questions about the month and age, and ability to follow commands such as closing eyes and opening a fist.

Performing the finger-nose-finger and heel-shin tests to detect clumsiness or lack of coordination in the limbs.

By testing each eye’s upper and lower quadrants for loss of vision and scoring based on how many quadrants are affected.

By having the patient hold their arms at a specified position and noting whether there is drift, contact with a surface, partial, or no movement.

Coaching may influence their natural response, leading to inaccurate scoring of their neurological status.

By checking for full eye movement to the left and right, noting any partial or forced deviations.

Assessment of the patient’s ability to form full sentences, convey partial meaning, or produce incomprehensible or no communication.

Observation of facial symmetry, presence of mild to severe droop, and weakness in upper and lower face.

These factors can affect scoring and provide context for interpreting the results accurately.

The clarity and intelligibility of the speech, noting if it is slurred, understandable, or unintelligible.

It provides insights into the severity and type of neurological deficits, enabling targeted and effective treatment plans.

By evaluating responses to visual fields and sensation tests for awareness of one or both sides, identifying partial or complete neglect.