NIH NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
6–1 • A PUORG
SS National Institutes of Health — Stroke Certification
TIME IS BRAIN
STROKE SCALE
NIH Stroke Scale — Group A Scoring
PAT I E N TS 1 – 6 : STA N D A R D I Z E D N E U R O LO G I C A L A SS E SS M E N T
INSTITUTION National Institutes of Health (NIH) EXAM CODE NIHSS-GROUP-A-2026
PROGRAM NIH Stroke Scale Certification ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NIHSS Group A — Patients 1–6 TOTAL PATIENTS 6 Patients — Group A
COURSE TITLE NIH Stroke Scale Training & Certification FORMAT Clinical Assessment Scoring — 11 Items
(0–42 Scale)
NIHSS ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS
The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a 15-item neurological examination used to evaluate the effect of acute
cerebral infarction on levels of consciousness, language, neglect, visual-field loss, extraocular movement,
motor strength, ataxia, dysarthria, and sensory loss.
Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (normal) to a variable maximum. Total possible score is 42 (most severe).
Score interpretation: 0 = No stroke symptoms; 1–4 = Minor stroke; 5–15 = Moderate stroke; 16–20 = Moderate
to severe stroke; 21–42 = Severe stroke.
Below are the itemized scores for Group A, Patients 1–6 with calculated total scores.
Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3
1a. LOC 0 1a. LOC 0 1a. LOC 0
1b. LOC Questions 0 1b. LOC Questions 2 1b. LOC Questions 0
1c. LOC Commands 0 1c. LOC Commands 0 1c. LOC Commands 0
2. Best Gaze 0 2. Best Gaze 0 2. Best Gaze 0
3. Visual Fields 0 3. Visual Fields 0 3. Visual Fields 0
4. Facial Palsy 1 4. Facial Palsy 1 4. Facial Palsy 1
5a. Motor L Arm 3 5a. Motor L Arm 0 5a. Motor L Arm 0
5b. Motor R Arm 0 5b. Motor R Arm 0 5b. Motor R Arm 0
6a. Motor L Leg 1 6a. Motor L Leg 0 6a. Motor L Leg 2
6b. Motor R Leg 0 6b. Motor R Leg 0 6b. Motor R Leg 2
7. Limb Ataxia 1 7. Limb Ataxia 0 7. Limb Ataxia 0
8. Sensory 2 8. Sensory 1 8. Sensory 1
9. Best Language 0 9. Best Language 2 9. Best Language 0
10. Dysarthria 0 10. Dysarthria 1 10. Dysarthria 1
11. Extinction 1 11. Extinction 0 11. Extinction 0
TOTAL 9 TOTAL 7 TOTAL 7
Patient 4 Patient 5 Patient 6
6–1 • A PUORG
SS National Institutes of Health — Stroke Certification
TIME IS BRAIN
STROKE SCALE
NIH Stroke Scale — Group A Scoring
PAT I E N TS 1 – 6 : STA N D A R D I Z E D N E U R O LO G I C A L A SS E SS M E N T
INSTITUTION National Institutes of Health (NIH) EXAM CODE NIHSS-GROUP-A-2026
PROGRAM NIH Stroke Scale Certification ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NIHSS Group A — Patients 1–6 TOTAL PATIENTS 6 Patients — Group A
COURSE TITLE NIH Stroke Scale Training & Certification FORMAT Clinical Assessment Scoring — 11 Items
(0–42 Scale)
NIHSS ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS
The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a 15-item neurological examination used to evaluate the effect of acute
cerebral infarction on levels of consciousness, language, neglect, visual-field loss, extraocular movement,
motor strength, ataxia, dysarthria, and sensory loss.
Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (normal) to a variable maximum. Total possible score is 42 (most severe).
Score interpretation: 0 = No stroke symptoms; 1–4 = Minor stroke; 5–15 = Moderate stroke; 16–20 = Moderate
to severe stroke; 21–42 = Severe stroke.
Below are the itemized scores for Group A, Patients 1–6 with calculated total scores.
Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3
1a. LOC 0 1a. LOC 0 1a. LOC 0
1b. LOC Questions 0 1b. LOC Questions 2 1b. LOC Questions 0
1c. LOC Commands 0 1c. LOC Commands 0 1c. LOC Commands 0
2. Best Gaze 0 2. Best Gaze 0 2. Best Gaze 0
3. Visual Fields 0 3. Visual Fields 0 3. Visual Fields 0
4. Facial Palsy 1 4. Facial Palsy 1 4. Facial Palsy 1
5a. Motor L Arm 3 5a. Motor L Arm 0 5a. Motor L Arm 0
5b. Motor R Arm 0 5b. Motor R Arm 0 5b. Motor R Arm 0
6a. Motor L Leg 1 6a. Motor L Leg 0 6a. Motor L Leg 2
6b. Motor R Leg 0 6b. Motor R Leg 0 6b. Motor R Leg 2
7. Limb Ataxia 1 7. Limb Ataxia 0 7. Limb Ataxia 0
8. Sensory 2 8. Sensory 1 8. Sensory 1
9. Best Language 0 9. Best Language 2 9. Best Language 0
10. Dysarthria 0 10. Dysarthria 1 10. Dysarthria 1
11. Extinction 1 11. Extinction 0 11. Extinction 0
TOTAL 9 TOTAL 7 TOTAL 7
Patient 4 Patient 5 Patient 6
