NIH Stroke Scale Calculator Sponsored Advertising placement NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Clinical Decision Tool Quantifies neurological impairment in suspected or confirmed acute stroke using the 15 scored NIHSS items. 1a. Level of Consciousness 0 — Alert; keenly responsive 0 1 — Not alert; arousable by minor stimulation +1 2 — Not alert; requires repeated or painful stimulation +2 3 — Responds only with reflex motor or autonomic effects, or totally unresponsive +3 1b. LOC Questions 0 — Answers both month and age correctly 0 1 — Answers one correctly +1 2 — Answers neither correctly +2 1c. LOC Commands 0 — Performs both tasks correctly 0 1 — Performs one task correctly +1 2 — Performs neither task correctly +2 2. Best Gaze 0 — Normal 0 1 — Partial gaze palsy +1 2 — Forced deviation or total gaze paresis +2 3. Visual Fields 0 — No visual loss 0 1 — Partial hemianopia +1 2 — Complete hemianopia +2 3 — Bilateral hemianopia, including cortical blindness +3 4. Facial Palsy 0 — Normal symmetrical movements 0 1 — Minor paralysis +1 2 — Partial paralysis +2 3 — Complete paralysis of one or both sides +3 5a. Motor — Left Arm 0 — No drift; holds position for the full 10 seconds 0 1 — Drift; does not hit the bed or support +1 2 — Some effort against gravity; cannot maintain position +2 3 — No effort against gravity +3 4 — No movement +4 5b. Motor — Right Arm 0 — No drift; holds position for the full 10 seconds 0 1 — Drift; does not hit the bed or support +1 2 — Some effort against gravity; cannot maintain position +2 3 — No effort against gravity +3 4 — No movement +4 6a. Motor — Left Leg 0 — No drift; holds position for the full 5 seconds 0 1 — Drift; does not hit the bed or support +1 2 — Some effort against gravity; cannot maintain position +2 3 — No effort against gravity +3 4 — No movement +4 6b. Motor — Right Leg 0 — No drift; holds position for the full 5 seconds 0 1 — Drift; does not hit the bed or support +1 2 — Some effort against gravity; cannot maintain position +2 3 — No effort against gravity +3 4 — No movement +4 7. Limb Ataxia 0 — Absent 0 1 — Present in one limb +1 2 — Present in two limbs +2 8. Sensory 0 — Normal; no sensory loss 0 1 — Mild-to-moderate sensory loss +1 2 — Severe or total sensory loss +2 9. Best Language 0 — No aphasia; normal 0 1 — Mild-to-moderate aphasia +1 2 — Severe aphasia +2 3 — Mute or global aphasia +3 10. Dysarthria 0 — Normal 0 1 — Mild-to-moderate dysarthria +1 2 — Severe dysarthria or anarthria +2 11. Extinction and Inattention 0 — No abnormality 0 1 — Visual, tactile, auditory, spatial or personal inattention in one modality +1 2 — Profound hemi-inattention or extinction in more than one modality +2 Calculate NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Clear Calculator ☆ Log in to save Save this calculator to your MDPDA account. + Add to Toolkit Log in to save incomplete calculator progress and return later. Log in to save progress Clinical Decision Support Only MediCalc calculators are intended to support qualified healthcare professionals and must not replace professional clinical judgement. Do not enter patient-identifiable information into Saved Progress. Read our Clinical Disclaimer Sponsored Advertising placement
