NIHSS Sensory Testing 3

Question 1

An aphasic patient cannot verbally report sensory changes. How should the NIHSS sensory item be administered?

Accepted Answer

Observe grimace or withdrawal to pinprick as a response

Answer

In aphasic patients, the examiner observes behavioral responses such as grimacing or withdrawal rather than relying on verbal reports.

Question 2

What NIHSS sensory score is assigned to a patient who feels a dull versus sharp difference but says 'it feels less sharp, not absent' on the affected side?

Accepted Answer

1 — mild-to-moderate loss with awareness of stimulus

Answer

Awareness of the stimulus with reduced sharpness indicates mild-to-moderate sensory loss, scoring a 1.

Question 3

A patient is drowsy but withdraws from pinprick on both sides. What NIHSS sensory score applies?

Accepted Answer

0 — bilateral withdrawal indicates normal sensation

Answer

Symmetric bilateral withdrawal from pinprick in a drowsy patient indicates intact sensation bilaterally, scoring 0.

Question 4

In the NIHSS, which score indicates that a patient has NO sensory loss?

Accepted Answer

0

Answer

A score of 0 on NIHSS Item 8 means normal sensation — no sensory loss is detected.

Question 5

A patient has a cortical stroke and reports that the left arm feels 'numb and tingling' but pain is still perceived. How is this scored?

Accepted Answer

1 — partial sensory loss with preserved pain perception

Answer

Perceived numbness with partially preserved pain sensation represents mild-to-moderate loss, scored as 1.

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test

NIHSS Sensory Testing 3