NIHSS Dysarthria Assessment 3

Question 1

A stroke patient produces no intelligible sounds but is fully awake and not aphasic. What NIHSS dysarthria score is correct?

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

A patient who is alert and non-aphasic but produces no intelligible speech receives a score of 2 for severe dysarthria or anarthria.

Question 2

When testing dysarthria, the examiner notices the patient speaks at a normal rate with clear articulation. The appropriate NIHSS score is:

Accepted Answer

0 – Normal

Answer

Clear articulation at a normal rate with no slurring earns a score of 0 (normal) on NIHSS item 10.

Question 3

Posterior circulation stroke most commonly produces dysarthria through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Cerebellar or brainstem lesions affecting motor speech coordination

Answer

Posterior circulation strokes affect the cerebellum and brainstem, directly impairing the motor coordination and cranial nerve nuclei responsible for articulation.

Question 4

During NIHSS testing, a bilingual patient speaks only Spanish and the examiner speaks only English. How should dysarthria be handled?

Accepted Answer

Use a translator or assess articulation quality without language content

Answer

A translator should be used if available; alternatively, the examiner assesses whether articulation sounds slurred regardless of language content.

Question 5

Which statement best describes the NIHSS approach to scoring dysarthria in a patient who has pre-existing slurred speech from a prior stroke?

Accepted Answer

Score based on current speech compared with premorbid baseline if known

Answer

NIHSS scores reflect the acute neurological change; examiners compare current findings to premorbid status when a prior deficit is documented.

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test

NIHSS Dysarthria Assessment 3