National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a tool healthcare professionals use to measure the severity of a stroke. It assesses various abilities such as consciousness, vision, movement, sensation, speech, and language. By scoring specific tasks, clinicians can determine how much a stroke has affected a person's brain function. The higher the score, the more severe the stroke. This scale helps guide treatment decisions, monitor progress, and predict recovery outcomes. It’s a standardized way to quickly evaluate stroke impact and ensure patients receive appropriate care.