The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, or NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a tool used by healthcare providers to objectively quantify the impairment caused by a stroke. The NIHSS is composed of 11 items, each of which scores a specific ability between a 0 and 4. For each item, a score of 0 typically indicates normal function in that specific ability, while a higher score is indicative of some level of impairment. The individual scores from each item are summed in order to calculate a patient's total NIHSS score. The maximum possible score is 42, with the minimum score being a 0.
| Score | Stroke Severity |
|---|---|
| 0 | No Stroke Symptoms |
| 1-4 | Minor Stroke |
| 5-15 | Moderate Stroke |
| 16-20 | Moderate to Severe Stroke |
| 21-42 | Severe Stroke |
Read more about National Institutes Of Health Stroke Scale: Performing The Scale, Usage, Accuracy
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