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Neurological Examination Scoring System, Exams of Nursing

A neurological examination scoring system used to assess various aspects of a patient's neurological function, including language, sensory function, and motor function. The scoring system is designed to be used by healthcare professionals, such as physicians or neurologists, to evaluate patients with neurological conditions or injuries. Detailed instructions on how to score each item, as well as guidelines for handling patients with specific limitations or impairments. The scoring system is likely used in clinical settings, such as hospitals or outpatient clinics, to help healthcare providers make informed decisions about patient care and treatment.

Typology: Exams

2023/2024

Available from 08/21/2024

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Hernandez, Delmy
01- NIHSS-English Group A-V3 - 1st Certification
Date Result
3/3/2018 4:12:38 AM Passed 89 of 90 (98.89 %)
View Responses
Patient 1
Topic Question Answer Grade
Level of
Consciousness
1a. Level of
Consciousness: The
investigator must
choose a response, even
if a full evaluation is
prevented by such
obstacles as an
endotracheal tube,
language barrier,
orotracheal
trauma/bandages. A 3 is
scored only if the
patient makes no
'
0 = Alert; keenly responsive Correct
movement (other than
reflexive posturing) in
response to noxious
stimulation.
LOC Questions 1b. LOC Questions: The
patient is asked the
month and his/her age.
The answer must be
correct - there is no
partial credit for being
close. Aphasic and
stuporous patients who
do not comprehend the
questions will score 2.
Patients unable to speak
because of endotracheal
intubation, orotracheal
trauma, severe
dysarthria from any
cause, language barrier
or any other problem
not secondary to
aphasia are given a 1. It
is important that only
the initial answer be
graded and that the
examiner not "help" the
patient with verbal or
non-verbal cues.
0 = Answers both questions
correctly
Correct
LOC Commands
1c. LOC Commands:
The patient is asked to
open and close the eyes
and then to grip and
0 = Performs both tasks correctly Correct
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Hernandez, Delmy 01 - NIHSS-English Group A-V3 - 1st Certification Date Result 3/3/2018 4:12:38 AM Passed 89 of 90 (98.89 %) View Responses Patient 1 Topic Question^ Answer^ Grade Level of Consciousness 1a. Level of Consciousness: The investigator must choose a response, even if a full evaluation is prevented by such obstacles as an endotracheal tube, language barrier, orotracheal trauma/bandages. A 3 is scored only if the

patient makes no '

0 = Alert; keenly responsive Correct movement (other than reflexive posturing) in response to noxious stimulation. LOC Questions 1b. LOC Questions: The patient is asked the month and his/her age. The answer must be correct - there is no partial credit for being close. Aphasic and stuporous patients who do not comprehend the questions will score 2. Patients unable to speak because of endotracheal intubation, orotracheal trauma, severe dysarthria from any cause, language barrier or any other problem not secondary to aphasia are given a 1. It is important that only the initial answer be graded and that the examiner not "help" the patient with verbal or non-verbal cues. 0 = Answers both questions correctly Correct LOC Commands 1c. LOC Commands: The patient is asked to open and close the eyes and then to grip and 0 = Performs both tasks correctly Correct

release the non-paretic hand. Substitute another one step command if the hands cannot be used. Credit is given if an unequivocal attempt is made but not completed due to weakness. If the patient does not respond to command, the task should be demonstrated to them (pantomime) and score the result (i.e., follows none, one or two commands). Patients with trauma, amputation, or other physical impediments should be given suitable one-step commands. Only the first attempt is scored. Best Gaze 2. Best Gaze: Only horizontal eye movements will be tested.Voluntary or reflexive (oculocephalic) eye movements will be scored but caloric testing is not done. If the patient has a conjugate deviation of the eyes that can be overcome by voluntary or reflexive activity, the score will be 1. If a patient has an isolated peripheral nerve paresis (CN III, IV or VI) score a 1. Gaze is testable in all aphasic patients. Patients with ocular trauma, bandages, pre- existing blindness or other disorder of visual acuity or fields should be tested with reflexive movements and a choice made by the investigator. Establishing eye contact and then moving about the patient from side to side will occasionally 0 = Normal Correct

the arm falls before 10 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime, but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic arm. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the shoulder, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Motor Arms 5b. Motor Arm Right: Limb is placed in the appropriate position: extend the arms (palms down) 90 degrees (if sitting) or 45 degrees (if supine). Drift is scored if the arm falls before 10 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime, but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic arm. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the shoulder, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Motor Legs 6a. Left Leg: The limb is placed in the appropriate position: hold the leg at 30 degrees (always tested supine). Drift is scored if the leg falls before 5 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic leg. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the hip, the examiner should record 0 = No drift, limb holds 90 (or

  1. degrees for full 10 seconds 1 = Drift, leg falls by the end of the 5 second period, but does not hit bed Correct Correct

the score as untestable (UN) Motor Legs 6b. Right Leg: The limb is placed in the appropriate position: hold the leg at 30 degrees (always tested supine). Drift is scored if the leg falls before 5 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic leg. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the hip, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Limb Ataxia 7. Limb Ataxia: This item is aimed at finding evidence of a unilateral cerebellar lesion. Test with eyes open. In case of visual defect, ensure testing is done in intact visual field. The finger- nose-finger and heel- shin tests are performed on both sides, and ataxia is scored only if present out of proportion to weakness. Ataxia is absent in the patient who cannot understand or is paralyzed. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN), and clearly write the explanation for this choice. In case of blindness, test by having the patient touch nose from extended arm position. 0 = No drift, leg holds 30 degrees Correct position for full 5 seconds 1 = Present in one limb Correct Sensory 8. Sensory: Sensation or grimace to pinprick when tested, or withdrawal from noxious 2 = Severe or total sensory loss; patient is not aware of being touched in the face, arm and leg Correct

produce speech. The intubated patient should be asked to write. The patient in a coma (item 1a=3) will automatically score 3 on this item. The examiner must choose a score for the patient with stupor or limited cooperation, but a score of 3 should be used only if the patient is mute and follows no one-step commands. Dysarthria 10. Dysarthria: If patient is thought to be normal, an adequate sample of speech must be obtained by asking patient to read or repeat words from the attached list. If the patient has severe aphasia, the clarity of articulation of spontaneous speech can be rated. Only if the patient is intubated or has other physical barriers to producing speech, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN). Do not tell the patient why he/she is being tested. 0 = Normal Correct Extinction and Inattention (formerly Neglect)

  1. Extinction and Inattention (formerly Neglect): Sufficient information to identify neglect may be obtained during the prior testing. If the patient has a severe visual loss preventing visual double simultaneous stimulation, and the cutaneous stimuli are normal, the score is normal. If the patient has aphasia but does appear to attend to both sides, the score is normal. The presence of visual spatial neglect or anosagnosia may also be taken as evidence of abnormality. Since the abnormality is scored 1 = Visual, tactile, auditory, spatial, or personal inattention or extinction to bilateral simultaneous stimulation in one of the sensory modalities Correct

Patient 2 only if present, the item is never untestable. Question Answer Grade Level of Consciousness 1a. Level of Consciousness: The investigator must choose a response, even if a full evaluation is prevented by such obstacles as an endotracheal tube, language barrier, orotracheal trauma/bandages. A 3 is scored only if the patient makes no movement (other than reflexive posturing) in response to noxious stimulation. 0 = Alert; keenly responsive Correct LOC Questions 1b. LOC Questions: The patient is asked the month and his/her age. The answer must be correct - there is no partial credit for being close. Aphasic and stuporous patients who do not comprehend the questions will score 2. Patients unable to speak because of endotracheal intubation, orotracheal trauma, severe dysarthria from any cause, language barrier or any other problem not secondary to aphasia are given a 1. It is important that only the initial answer be graded and that the examiner not "help" the patient with verbal or non-verbal cues. 2 = Answers neither question correctly Correct LOC Commands 1c. LOC Commands: The patient is asked to open and close the eyes and then to grip and release the non-paretic hand. Substitute another one step command if the hands cannot be used. Credit is given if an unequivocal attempt is made but not completed 0 = Performs both tasks correctly Correct Topic

look at the side of the moving fingers appropriately, this can be scored as normal. If there is unilateral blindness or enucleation, visual fields in the remaining eye are scored. Score 1 only if a clear-cut asymmetry, including quadrantanopia is found. If patient is blind from any cause score 3. Double simultaneous stimulation is performed at this point. If there is extinction patient receives a 1, and the results are used to answer question 11. Facial Palsy 4. Facial Palsy: Ask, or use pantomime to encourage the patient to show teeth or raise eyebrows and close eyes. Score symmetry of grimace in response to noxious stimuli in the poorly responsive or non-comprehending patient. If facial trauma/bandages, orotracheal tube, tape or other physical barriers obscure the face, these should be removed to the extent possible. Motor Arms 5a. Motor Arm Left: The limb is placed in the appropriate position: extend the arms (palms down) 90 degrees (if sitting) or 45 degrees (if supine). Drift is scored if the arm falls before 10 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime, but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic arm. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the shoulder, 0 = Normal symmetrical movement 0 = No drift, limb holds 90 (or 45) degrees for full 10 seconds Correct Correct

the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Motor Arms 5b. Motor Arm Right: Limb is placed in the appropriate position: extend the arms (palms down) 90 degrees (if sitting) or 45 degrees (if supine). Drift is scored if the arm falls before 10 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime, but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic arm. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the shoulder, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Motor Legs 6a. Left Leg: The limb is placed in the appropriate position: hold the leg at 30 degrees (always tested supine). Drift is scored if the leg falls before 5 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic leg. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the hip, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Motor Legs 6b. Right Leg: The limb is placed in the appropriate position: hold the leg at 30 degrees (always tested supine). Drift is scored if the leg falls before 5 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime 0 = No drift, limb holds 90 (or 45) degrees for full 10 seconds 0 = No drift, leg holds 30 degrees position for full 5 seconds 0 = No drift, leg holds 30 degrees position for full 5 seconds Correct Correct Correct

loss of sensation can be clearly demonstrated. Stuporous and aphasic patients will, therefore, probably score 1 or 0. The patient with brainstem stroke who has bilateral loss of sensation is scored 2. If the patient does not respond and is quadriplegic, score 2. Patients in a coma (item 1a=3) are automatically given a 2 on this item. Best Language 9. Best Language: A great deal of information about comprehension will be obtained during the preceding sections of 2 = Severe aphasia; all communication is through fragmentary expression; great need for inference, questioning and guessing by the listener. Correct the examination. For this Range of information that can be scale item, the patient is asked to describe what is happening in the attached picture, to name the items on the attached naming sheet and to read from the attached list of sentences. Comprehension is judged from responses here, as well as to all of the commands in the preceding general neurological exam. If visual loss interferes with the tests, ask the patient to identify objects placed in the hand, repeat, and produce speech. The intubated patient should be asked to write. The patient in a coma (item 1a=3) will automatically score 3 on this item. The examiner must choose a score for the patient with stupor or limited cooperation, but a score of 3 should be used only if the patient is mute and follows no one-step commands. exchanged is limited; listener carries burden of communication. Examiner cannot identify materials provided from patient response Dysarthria 10. Dysarthria: If patient 1 = Mild-to-moderate dysarthria; Correct is thought to be normal, patient slurs at least some words

Extinction and Inattention (formerly Neglect) Patient 3 an adequate sample of speech must be obtained by asking patient to read or repeat words from the attached list. If the patient has severe aphasia, the clarity of articulation of spontaneous speech can be rated. Only if the patient is intubated or has other physical barriers to producing speech, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN). Do not tell the patient why he/she is being tested.

  1. Extinction and Inattention (formerly Neglect): Sufficient information to identify neglect may be obtained during the prior testing. If the patient has a severe visual loss preventing visual double simultaneous stimulation, and the cutaneous stimuli are normal, the score is normal. If the patient has aphasia but does appear to attend to both sides, the score is normal. The presence of visual spatial neglect or anosagnosia may also be taken as evidence of abnormality. Since the abnormality is scored only if present, the item is never untestable. and, at worst, can be understood with some difficulty 0 = No abnormality Correct Question Answer Grade Level of Consciousness 1a. Level of Consciousness: The investigator must choose a response, even if a full evaluation is prevented by such obstacles as an endotracheal tube, language barrier, orotracheal trauma/bandages. A 3 is 0 = Alert; keenly responsive Correct Topic

Best Gaze 2. Best Gaze: Only horizontal eye movements will be tested.Voluntary or reflexive (oculocephalic) eye movements will be scored but caloric testing is not done. If the patient has a conjugate deviation of the eyes that can be overcome by voluntary or reflexive activity, the score will be

  1. If a patient has an isolated peripheral nerve paresis (CN III, IV or VI) score a 1. Gaze is testable in all aphasic patients. Patients with ocular trauma, bandages, pre-existing blindness or other disorder of visual acuity or fields should be tested with reflexive movements and a choice made by the investigator. Establishing eye contact and then moving about the patient from side to side will occasionally clarify the presence of a partial gaze palsy. Visual 3. Visual: Visual fields (upper and lower quadrants) are tested by confrontation, using finger counting or visual threat as appropriate. Patient must be encouraged, but if they look at the side of the moving fingers appropriately, this can be scored as normal. If there is unilateral blindness or enucleation, visual fields in the remaining eye are scored. Score 1 only if a clear-cut asymmetry, including quadrantanopia is found. If patient is blind from any cause score 3. Double simultaneous 0 = Normal Correct 0 = No visual loss Correct

stimulation is performed at this point. If there is extinction patient receives a 1, and the results are used to answer question 11. Facial Palsy 4. Facial Palsy: Ask, or use pantomime to encourage the patient to show teeth or raise eyebrows and close eyes. Score symmetry of grimace in response to noxious stimuli in the poorly responsive or non-comprehending patient. If facial trauma/bandages, orotracheal tube, tape or other physical barriers obscure the face, these should be removed to the extent possible. Motor Arms 5a. Motor Arm Left: The limb is placed in the appropriate position: extend the arms (palms down) 90 degrees (if sitting) or 45 degrees (if supine). Drift is scored if the arm falls before 10 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the voice and pantomime, but not noxious stimulation. Each limb is tested in turn, beginning with the non-paretic arm. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion at the shoulder, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN) Motor Arms 5b. Motor Arm Right: Limb is placed in the appropriate position: extend the arms (palms down) 90 degrees (if sitting) or 45 degrees (if supine). Drift is scored if the arm falls before 10 seconds. The aphasic patient is encouraged using urgency in the 1 = Minor paralysis (flattened nasolabial fold, asymmetry on smiling) 0 = No drift, limb holds 90 (or 45) degrees for full 10 seconds 0 = No drift, limb holds 90 (or 45) degrees for full 10 seconds Correct Correct Correct

with eyes open. In case of visual defect, ensure testing is done in intact visual field. The finger- nose-finger and heel- shin tests are performed on both sides, and ataxia is scored only if present out of proportion to weakness. Ataxia is absent in the patient who cannot understand or is paralyzed. Only in the case of amputation or joint fusion, the examiner should record the score as untestable (UN), and clearly write the explanation for this choice. In case of blindness, test by having the patient touch nose from extended arm position. Sensory 8. Sensory: Sensation or grimace to pinprick when tested, or withdrawal from noxious stimulus in the obtunded or aphasic patient. Only sensory loss attributed to stroke is scored as abnormal and the examiner should test as many body areas (arms [not hands], legs, trunk, face) as needed to accurately check for hemisensory loss. A score of 2, “severe or total sensory loss,” should only be given when a severe or total loss of sensation can be clearly demonstrated. Stuporous and aphasic patients will, therefore, probably score 1 or 0. The patient with brainstem stroke who has bilateral loss of sensation is scored 2. If the patient does not respond and is quadriplegic, score 2. Patients in a coma (item 1 = Mild-to-moderate sensory loss; patient feels pinprick is less sharp or is dull on the affected side; or there is a loss of superficial pain with pinprick, but patient is aware of being touched Correct

1a=3) are automatically given a 2 on this item. Best Language 9. Best Language: A great deal of information about comprehension will be obtained during the preceding sections of 1 = Mildtomoderate aphasia; some obvious loss of fluency or facility of comprehension, without significant limitation on ideas expressed or form of expression. Correct the examination. For this Reduction of speech and/or scale item, the patient is asked to describe what is happening in the attached picture, to name the items on the attached naming sheet and to read from the attached list of sentences. Comprehension is judged from responses here, as well as to all of the commands in the preceding general neurological exam. If visual loss interferes with the tests, ask the patient to identify objects placed in the hand, repeat, and produce speech. The intubated patient should be asked to write. The patient in a coma (item 1a=3) will automatically score 3 on this item. The examiner must choose a score for the patient with stupor or limited cooperation, but a score of 3 should be used only if the patient is mute and follows no one-step commands. comprehension, however, makes conversation about provided materials difficult or impossible. For example, in conversation about provided materials, examiner can identify picture or naming card content from patient’s response Dysarthria 10. Dysarthria: If patient 1 = Mild-to-moderate dysarthria; Correct is thought to be normal, an adequate sample of speech must be obtained by asking patient to read or repeat words from the attached list. If the patient has severe aphasia, the clarity of articulation of spontaneous speech can be rated. Only if the patient is intubated or has other physical barriers to producing patient slurs at least some words and, at worst, can be understood with some difficulty