1 through 6 - Complete NIHSS Clinical
Case Series with Scores, Severity &
Deficit Analysis | Latest Spring 2026
Edition
Patient A1
Total Score: 9
Severity: Moderate Stroke
Dominant Deficit Pattern: Severe left arm weakness, moderate sensory loss, mild
neglect, and mild ataxia.
Item Domain Score Clinical Description
1a LOC 0 Fully alert.
1b LOC Questions 0 Answers both correctly.
1c LOC Commands 0 Performs both commands.
2 Best Gaze 0 Normal horizontal eye movements.
3 Visual Fields 0 No visual loss.
4 Facial Palsy 1 Minor facial asymmetry (e.g., flattened
nasolabial fold).
5a Motor Arm (Left) 3 Significant: Arm falls immediately; no effort
against gravity.
5b Motor Arm 0 No drift; normal strength.
(Right)
6a Motor Leg (Left) 1 Mild drift; leg falls before 5 seconds but does
not hit bed.
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, 6b Motor Leg (Right) 0 No drift; normal strength.
7 Limb Ataxia 1 Ataxia present in one limb.
8 Sensory 2 Severe: Total or near-total sensory loss in
affected areas.
9 Best Language 0 No aphasia; normal fluency/comprehension.
10 Dysarthria 0 Normal articulation.
11 Extinction/Neglect 1 Mild inattention or extinction to one sensory
modality.
Patient A2
Total Score: 7
Severity: Moderate Stroke
Dominant Deficit Pattern: Moderate aphasia with dysarthria, mild facial
weakness, and mild sensory loss. Notably, no motor weakness in the limbs.
Item Domain Score Clinical Description
1a LOC 0 Fully alert.
1b LOC Questions 2 Significant: Answers neither question
correctly.
1c LOC Commands 0 Performs both commands.
2 Best Gaze 0 Normal horizontal eye movements.
3 Visual Fields 0 No visual loss.
4 Facial Palsy 1 Minor facial asymmetry.
5a Motor Arm (Left) 0 No drift; normal strength.
5b Motor Arm 0 No drift; normal strength.
(Right)
6a Motor Leg (Left) 0 No drift; normal strength.
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