NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FINAL EXAMS
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is a difference between Bells palsy and a stroke? - ✔✔bells palsy is temporary
and only effects the face, consequences of a stroke can last a lifetime, and can effect
not only the fact but the body as in weakness on one side
✔✔How do we test CN 8? - ✔✔Test hearing acuity by ability to hear normal
conversation and by whispered voice test
✔✔How do we test CNs 9 and 10? - ✔✔Depress tongue with tongue blade, and note
pharyngeal movement as person says "ahhh" uvula and soft palate should rise in
midline, and tonsillar pillars should move medially, gag reflex, voice. Also taste on
posterior 1/3 of tongue
✔✔How do we test CN 11? - ✔✔sternomastoid and trapezius muscles for equal size,
Strength: rotate head against resistance applied to side of chin, shrug shoulders
✔✔When you are testing a muscle you always have to test the strength against what? -
✔✔resistance
✔✔How do we test CN 12? - ✔✔Inspect tongue; no wasting or tremors should be
present
, Note forward thrust in midline as person protrudes tongue
Ask person to say "light, tight, dynamite," and note that lingual speech (sounds of letters
l, t, d, n) is clear and distinct
✔✔A patient is recovering after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The patient is at risk
for aspiration. To assess when the patient is ready for a liquid diet, the nurse assesses
the patient's swallowing ability at each meal. This assessment evaluates:
A. cranial nerves I and II.
B. cranial nerves III and V.
C. cranial nerves VI and VIII.
D. cranial nerves IX and X. - ✔✔D. cranial nerves IX and X.
✔✔When examining the muscles what should you inspect/palpate? (8) - ✔✔inspect all
muscle groups for size and compare the right side with the left, test the strength by
having them push on your hands against resistance, and note if there are any
involuntary movements (abnormal), bulk (muscle mass) tone (muscle tension at rest),
test with passive manipulation, test speed of movement and endurance (how long they
can do it)
✔✔If you dont use your muscles what will occur? - ✔✔they will atrophy
✔✔How do we grade muscle strength? - ✔✔on a scale from 0-5
✔✔What does a grade of 0 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔no contraction (cant even
move, paralyzed)
✔✔What does a grade of 5 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM against gravity
and full resistance
✔✔What does a grade of 3 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM with gravity
✔✔What does a grade of 4 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM against gravity,
and some resistance
✔✔What does a grade of 2 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM with gravity
eliminated (passive motion)
✔✔What does a grade of 1 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔slight contraction
✔✔What are test used to observe balance? (4) - ✔✔gait (normal walking), tandem (heel
to toe), shallow knee bend or hop in place on one leg, romberg test (eyes closed
standing up straight with feet together and arms at side)
✔✔What are characteristics of a normal gait? (3) - ✔✔smooth, rhythmic and effortless
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is a difference between Bells palsy and a stroke? - ✔✔bells palsy is temporary
and only effects the face, consequences of a stroke can last a lifetime, and can effect
not only the fact but the body as in weakness on one side
✔✔How do we test CN 8? - ✔✔Test hearing acuity by ability to hear normal
conversation and by whispered voice test
✔✔How do we test CNs 9 and 10? - ✔✔Depress tongue with tongue blade, and note
pharyngeal movement as person says "ahhh" uvula and soft palate should rise in
midline, and tonsillar pillars should move medially, gag reflex, voice. Also taste on
posterior 1/3 of tongue
✔✔How do we test CN 11? - ✔✔sternomastoid and trapezius muscles for equal size,
Strength: rotate head against resistance applied to side of chin, shrug shoulders
✔✔When you are testing a muscle you always have to test the strength against what? -
✔✔resistance
✔✔How do we test CN 12? - ✔✔Inspect tongue; no wasting or tremors should be
present
, Note forward thrust in midline as person protrudes tongue
Ask person to say "light, tight, dynamite," and note that lingual speech (sounds of letters
l, t, d, n) is clear and distinct
✔✔A patient is recovering after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The patient is at risk
for aspiration. To assess when the patient is ready for a liquid diet, the nurse assesses
the patient's swallowing ability at each meal. This assessment evaluates:
A. cranial nerves I and II.
B. cranial nerves III and V.
C. cranial nerves VI and VIII.
D. cranial nerves IX and X. - ✔✔D. cranial nerves IX and X.
✔✔When examining the muscles what should you inspect/palpate? (8) - ✔✔inspect all
muscle groups for size and compare the right side with the left, test the strength by
having them push on your hands against resistance, and note if there are any
involuntary movements (abnormal), bulk (muscle mass) tone (muscle tension at rest),
test with passive manipulation, test speed of movement and endurance (how long they
can do it)
✔✔If you dont use your muscles what will occur? - ✔✔they will atrophy
✔✔How do we grade muscle strength? - ✔✔on a scale from 0-5
✔✔What does a grade of 0 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔no contraction (cant even
move, paralyzed)
✔✔What does a grade of 5 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM against gravity
and full resistance
✔✔What does a grade of 3 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM with gravity
✔✔What does a grade of 4 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM against gravity,
and some resistance
✔✔What does a grade of 2 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔full ROM with gravity
eliminated (passive motion)
✔✔What does a grade of 1 on muscle strength mean? - ✔✔slight contraction
✔✔What are test used to observe balance? (4) - ✔✔gait (normal walking), tandem (heel
to toe), shallow knee bend or hop in place on one leg, romberg test (eyes closed
standing up straight with feet together and arms at side)
✔✔What are characteristics of a normal gait? (3) - ✔✔smooth, rhythmic and effortless
