NIH STROKE SCALE GROUP D EXAM 2026
FULL PREPARATION WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ NIH scale #2
-first test, noting what?
-second test. Answer: -look at position of eyes at rest, noting
spontaneous eye movements to left or right
-then move finger or other target from side to side and ask patient to
track MOVING EYES ONLY, being sure to keep asking patient to
follow the target
◉ If patient does not accurately follow finger, a stronger test is
needed
USE what other tests. Answer: oculocephalic maneuver, eye fixation
or tracking of the examiner's face
◉ Item 2 - if patient has ocular rotary problems, such as strabismus,
but leaves mid-line in attempt to look both left and right, what
should the response be considered?. Answer: normal
◉ Item 2 Best Gaze Scoring
0
1
,2. Answer: 0 - normal
1 - partial gaze palsy
2- forced deviation
◉ If there is a conjugate deviation of eyes that can be overcome with
voluntary or reflexive activity, score a. Answer: 1
◉ If patient has isolated cranial nerve paralysis such as ocular motor
or abducens palsy, score a. Answer: 1
◉ Best Gaze - score a 2 if. Answer: there is forced deviation or total
gaze paresis not overcome by the oculocephalic maneuver
◉ conjugate lateral deviation not overcome with reflexive
movements, score a. Answer: 2
◉ tonic deviation such that eyes cannot be moved, score a. Answer:
2
◉ can a patient who scores a 3 on 1a LOC have palsy that can be
overcome by moving head?
if so, what should be performed?. Answer: yes
use oculocephalic maneuver and score the result
, ◉ should caloric testing be used. Answer: No, tests involving water
in the ear should not be used for eye tests
◉ in aphasic patients, is gaze testable? what makes it easier to
study?. Answer: yes, establish eye contact and move around the bed,
just as with confused patients
◉ should patients with ocular trauma, bandages, pre-existing
blindness, other disorders of visual acuity or fields be tested?
if so, what should they be tested with?. Answer: yes
they should be tested with reflexive movements and scored.
◉ NIH scale item 3 is. Answer: VISUAL FIELDS
◉ for item 3, have patient look where and tell them what
should both eyes be open?. Answer: patient is to look in examiner's
eyes and they are to be told that peripheral vision is being tested and
that I may move a finger to the right, a finger to the left, or both -
COVER ONE EYE when performing
◉ item 3, ask patient to do what. Answer: count fingers in all four
quadrants
FULL PREPARATION WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ NIH scale #2
-first test, noting what?
-second test. Answer: -look at position of eyes at rest, noting
spontaneous eye movements to left or right
-then move finger or other target from side to side and ask patient to
track MOVING EYES ONLY, being sure to keep asking patient to
follow the target
◉ If patient does not accurately follow finger, a stronger test is
needed
USE what other tests. Answer: oculocephalic maneuver, eye fixation
or tracking of the examiner's face
◉ Item 2 - if patient has ocular rotary problems, such as strabismus,
but leaves mid-line in attempt to look both left and right, what
should the response be considered?. Answer: normal
◉ Item 2 Best Gaze Scoring
0
1
,2. Answer: 0 - normal
1 - partial gaze palsy
2- forced deviation
◉ If there is a conjugate deviation of eyes that can be overcome with
voluntary or reflexive activity, score a. Answer: 1
◉ If patient has isolated cranial nerve paralysis such as ocular motor
or abducens palsy, score a. Answer: 1
◉ Best Gaze - score a 2 if. Answer: there is forced deviation or total
gaze paresis not overcome by the oculocephalic maneuver
◉ conjugate lateral deviation not overcome with reflexive
movements, score a. Answer: 2
◉ tonic deviation such that eyes cannot be moved, score a. Answer:
2
◉ can a patient who scores a 3 on 1a LOC have palsy that can be
overcome by moving head?
if so, what should be performed?. Answer: yes
use oculocephalic maneuver and score the result
, ◉ should caloric testing be used. Answer: No, tests involving water
in the ear should not be used for eye tests
◉ in aphasic patients, is gaze testable? what makes it easier to
study?. Answer: yes, establish eye contact and move around the bed,
just as with confused patients
◉ should patients with ocular trauma, bandages, pre-existing
blindness, other disorders of visual acuity or fields be tested?
if so, what should they be tested with?. Answer: yes
they should be tested with reflexive movements and scored.
◉ NIH scale item 3 is. Answer: VISUAL FIELDS
◉ for item 3, have patient look where and tell them what
should both eyes be open?. Answer: patient is to look in examiner's
eyes and they are to be told that peripheral vision is being tested and
that I may move a finger to the right, a finger to the left, or both -
COVER ONE EYE when performing
◉ item 3, ask patient to do what. Answer: count fingers in all four
quadrants
