What does a higher score on the NIHSS indicate?

A higher score on the NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) indicates more severe stroke symptoms. The NIHSS is a clinical assessment tool that quantifies the impairment caused by a stroke, with scores ranging from 0 to 42. A higher score reflects greater neurological deficits and a higher level of impairment, which corresponds to more significant challenges in areas such as motor function, speech, sensation, visual field, and consciousness.

This scale is crucial for healthcare providers to evaluate the severity of a stroke, guide treatment decisions, and predict patient outcomes. Understanding the relationship between NIHSS scores and stroke severity helps medical professionals identify the urgency of intervention needed and the likely impact on recovery. Therefore, as the NIHSS score increases, the implication is a corresponding increase in the severity of the stroke symptoms experienced by the patient.