NIHSS Visual Field Testing 2

Question 1

A patient has a right homonymous hemianopia detected during NIHSS visual field testing. What score does the examiner assign?

Accepted Answer

1

Answer

Partial visual field loss including hemianopia in one hemifield scores 1 on NIHSS item 3.

Question 2

During confrontation testing for NIHSS item 3, the patient correctly identifies finger movement only in the upper visual fields bilaterally. Lower fields are absent. Which score applies?

Accepted Answer

1 — partial visual loss

Answer

Loss restricted to quadrants (inferior quadrantanopia bilaterally) constitutes partial visual loss, scored as 1.

Question 3

When testing visual fields in an uncooperative patient on NIHSS, which method can be used as an alternative to confrontation finger counting?

Accepted Answer

Threatening gesture or visual threat

Answer

A visual threat (sudden hand movement toward the eye) can be used in patients who cannot cooperate with standard confrontation testing.

Question 4

A patient is blind in both eyes from pre-existing bilateral glaucoma. How should NIHSS item 3 be scored?

Accepted Answer

Score 0 because it is a pre-existing condition

Answer

Pre-existing conditions unrelated to the current stroke are not scored; the examiner records 0 and notes the prior baseline.

Question 5

A patient scores 3 on NIHSS item 3 (Visual). What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

Complete bilateral hemianopia (bilateral blindness)

Answer

A score of 3 indicates bilateral visual field loss resulting in blindness affecting both hemifields.

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test

NIHSS - National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Practice Test

NIHSS Visual Field Testing 2