What is the NIH Stroke Scale used for?

• A. To quantify stroke severity and guide prognosis and treatment decisions
• B. To measure intracranial pressure
• C. To assess spinal cord injury
• D. To evaluate liver function in stroke patients

Answer: (A)

The NIH Stroke Scale quantifies how severe a stroke is to help predict outcomes and guide treatment decisions. It scores various neurologic functions (consciousness, language, neglect, motor strength in arms and legs, facial palsy, ataxia, dysarthria, sensory loss), and the total score, from 0 to 42, reflects stroke severity—higher scores mean more impairment. This baseline score on admission, and its changes over time, informs prognosis and helps determine appropriate interventions, such as eligibility for reperfusion therapy and the level of monitoring or care needed. It isn’t used to measure intracranial pressure, spinal cord injury, or liver function.