NIH Stroke Scale – All Test Groups A-F (patients 1-6) Answer key
Recently Updated 2023
NIHSS Group A - Patients 1-6
Patient 1 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 2 - neither correct.
1c. 1 - preforms one task correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 2 - severe.
4. 1- minor paralysis.
5a. 0 - no drift.
5b. 4 - no movement.
6a. 0 - no drift.
6b. 4 - no movement.
7. 1 - present in one limb.
8. 2 - severe or total sensory loss.
9. 2 - severe aphasia.
10. 1 - mild to moderate dysarthria.
11. 1 - complete neglect.
Patient 2 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 0 - answers both correctly.
1c. 0 - preforms both tasks correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 0 - no visual loss.
,4. 0 - normal symmetrical movement.5a. 0 - no
drift.
5b. 0 - no drift.
6a. 1- mild drift.
6b. 2 - some efforts against gravity.
7. 0 - absent.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 0 - normal, no aphasia.
10. 0 - normal.
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Patient 3 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 0 - answers both correctly.
1c. 0 - performs both tasks correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 0 - no visual loss.
4. 1 - minor paralysis.
5a. 0 - no drift.
5b. 0 - no drift.
6a. 1 - drifts, does not hit bed.6b. 0 -
no drift.
7. 1 - present in one limb.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 0 - normal, no aphasia.
10. 0 - normal
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Patient 4 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 0 - answers both correctly.
, 1c. 0 - performs both tasks correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 0 - no visual loss.
4. 1 - minor paralysis.
5a. 1 - drift, does not hit bed.5b. 0 -
no drift.
6a. 1 - drifts, does not hit bed.6b. 0 -
no drift.
7. 2 - present in two limbs.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 0 - normal, no aphasia.
10. 0 - normal
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Patient 5 - 1a. 1 - not alert, but arousable.1b. 0 -
answers both correctly.
1c. 0 - performs both tasks correctly.
2. 1 - partial gaze palsy.
3. 1 - parietal.
4. 0 - normal.
5a. 2 - drifts to hit bed.5b. 0 -
no drift.
6a. 2 - drifts to hit bed.
6b. 1 - drifts, does not hit bed.
7. 2 - present in two limbs.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 1 - mild to moderate aphasia.
10. 1 - mild to moderate dysarthria.
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Recently Updated 2023
NIHSS Group A - Patients 1-6
Patient 1 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 2 - neither correct.
1c. 1 - preforms one task correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 2 - severe.
4. 1- minor paralysis.
5a. 0 - no drift.
5b. 4 - no movement.
6a. 0 - no drift.
6b. 4 - no movement.
7. 1 - present in one limb.
8. 2 - severe or total sensory loss.
9. 2 - severe aphasia.
10. 1 - mild to moderate dysarthria.
11. 1 - complete neglect.
Patient 2 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 0 - answers both correctly.
1c. 0 - preforms both tasks correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 0 - no visual loss.
,4. 0 - normal symmetrical movement.5a. 0 - no
drift.
5b. 0 - no drift.
6a. 1- mild drift.
6b. 2 - some efforts against gravity.
7. 0 - absent.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 0 - normal, no aphasia.
10. 0 - normal.
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Patient 3 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 0 - answers both correctly.
1c. 0 - performs both tasks correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 0 - no visual loss.
4. 1 - minor paralysis.
5a. 0 - no drift.
5b. 0 - no drift.
6a. 1 - drifts, does not hit bed.6b. 0 -
no drift.
7. 1 - present in one limb.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 0 - normal, no aphasia.
10. 0 - normal
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Patient 4 - 1a. 0 - alert.
1b. 0 - answers both correctly.
, 1c. 0 - performs both tasks correctly.
2. 0 - normal.
3. 0 - no visual loss.
4. 1 - minor paralysis.
5a. 1 - drift, does not hit bed.5b. 0 -
no drift.
6a. 1 - drifts, does not hit bed.6b. 0 -
no drift.
7. 2 - present in two limbs.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 0 - normal, no aphasia.
10. 0 - normal
11. 0 - no abnormality.
Patient 5 - 1a. 1 - not alert, but arousable.1b. 0 -
answers both correctly.
1c. 0 - performs both tasks correctly.
2. 1 - partial gaze palsy.
3. 1 - parietal.
4. 0 - normal.
5a. 2 - drifts to hit bed.5b. 0 -
no drift.
6a. 2 - drifts to hit bed.
6b. 1 - drifts, does not hit bed.
7. 2 - present in two limbs.
8. 1 - mild to moderate sensory loss.
9. 1 - mild to moderate aphasia.
10. 1 - mild to moderate dysarthria.
11. 0 - no abnormality.
