c. Points Assigned Responses on the Glasgow Coma Scale. The points
assigned patient responses are as follows:
(1) Eye opening. Examiner determines the best eye response in
accordance with the following response grading scale:
(a) Eyes open spontaneously -- 4 points.
(b) Eyes open in response to speech -- 3 points. The patient opens his
eyes when he is told to do so, or he responds to a command.
(c)
Eyes open in response to noxious stimuli -- 2 points.
(d)
Eyes do not open in response to noxious stimuli --
1 point.
(2) Verbal response. Examiner determines the best verbal response in
accordance with the following response grading scale:
(a) The patient is oriented to person, place, and time --
5 points. The patient can talk and say who he is, where he is, the year, and the month.
(b) The patient is not oriented (is confused), but is able to
communicate -- 4 points. The patient can talk but is somewhat confused.
(c) The patient speaks in a disorganized manner (inappropriate
speech) -- 3 points. The patient does not enter into conversations but says
understandable words (a curse, for example) or may say words which do not make
sense.
(d) The patient responds with moaning or groaning sounds
(incomprehensible sounds) -- 2 points. The patient vocalizes (makes sounds) but does
not say recognizable words.
(e) The patient has no verbal response -- 1 point. The patient does not
vocalize. He makes no sounds, nor does he respond to noxious stimulus.
(3) Motor response. Examiner determines the best motor response in
accordance with the following response grading scale.
(a) The patient obeys commands appropriately and is able to move all
extremities equally and spontaneously -- 6 points.
(b) The patient is still able to obey commands, but exhibits weakness
(for example, drifting of an upper extremity) -- 5 points.
MD0572
5-16