APEX NIH STROKE SCALE GROUP A
APEX INNOVATIONS COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES LATEST
2025 2026 VERIFIED GRADED A+
1. What is the first item assessed on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Best gaze
C. Motor arm
D. Sensory
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Level of consciousness
RATIONALE: The NIHSS begins with an assessment of the patient's level of
consciousness, evaluating responsiveness to questions and commands.
2. In the NIHSS, how is 'Level of Consciousness: Commands' scored if the patient
performs one task correctly but not the other?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1
,RATIONALE: A score of 1 is given if the patient performs one task correctly (e.g.,
open and close eyes, grip and release hand) but fails the other.
3. Which NIHSS item assesses horizontal eye movement?
A. Best gaze
B. Visual fields
C. Facial palsy
D. Level of consciousness
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Best gaze
RATIONALE: The 'Best gaze' item evaluates horizontal eye movement and checks
for partial or complete gaze palsy.
4. A patient has a complete homonymous hemianopia. What is the NIHSS score
for 'Visual Fields'?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2
RATIONALE: Complete hemianopia scores a 2 on the NIHSS visual fields item.
Partial hemianopia scores a 1, and bilateral hemianopia scores a 3.
5. During the NIHSS facial palsy assessment, a patient has complete paralysis of
the lower and upper face on one side. What is the score?
,A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3
RATIONALE: Complete paralysis of the lower and upper face on one side scores a
3 on the NIHSS facial palsy item.
6. In the NIHSS motor arm assessment, a patient's arm drifts down before 10
seconds but does not hit the bed. What is the score?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 1
RATIONALE: A score of 1 indicates some drift, meaning the arm drifts down but
does not hit the bed or other support within 10 seconds.
7. Which NIHSS item evaluates the patient's ability to perform finger-to-nose and
heel-to-shin tests?
A. Motor leg
B. Limb ataxia
C. Sensory
, D. Extinction and inattention
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Limb ataxia
RATIONALE: Limb ataxia is assessed using the finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin
tests to identify unilateral cerebellar lesions.
8. A patient responds to questions but speaks with severe slurring that is difficult
to understand. What is the NIHSS dysarthria score?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. Ungradable
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2
RATIONALE: Severe dysarthria, where speech is very slurred and difficult to
understand, scores a 2 on the NIHSS.
9. What is the maximum possible total score on the NIH Stroke Scale?
A. 15
B. 25
C. 34
D. 42
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 42
RATIONALE: The maximum possible score on the NIHSS is 42, which indicates a
very severe stroke.
APEX INNOVATIONS COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED RATIONALES LATEST
2025 2026 VERIFIED GRADED A+
1. What is the first item assessed on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)?
A. Level of consciousness
B. Best gaze
C. Motor arm
D. Sensory
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Level of consciousness
RATIONALE: The NIHSS begins with an assessment of the patient's level of
consciousness, evaluating responsiveness to questions and commands.
2. In the NIHSS, how is 'Level of Consciousness: Commands' scored if the patient
performs one task correctly but not the other?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1
,RATIONALE: A score of 1 is given if the patient performs one task correctly (e.g.,
open and close eyes, grip and release hand) but fails the other.
3. Which NIHSS item assesses horizontal eye movement?
A. Best gaze
B. Visual fields
C. Facial palsy
D. Level of consciousness
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Best gaze
RATIONALE: The 'Best gaze' item evaluates horizontal eye movement and checks
for partial or complete gaze palsy.
4. A patient has a complete homonymous hemianopia. What is the NIHSS score
for 'Visual Fields'?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2
RATIONALE: Complete hemianopia scores a 2 on the NIHSS visual fields item.
Partial hemianopia scores a 1, and bilateral hemianopia scores a 3.
5. During the NIHSS facial palsy assessment, a patient has complete paralysis of
the lower and upper face on one side. What is the score?
,A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3
RATIONALE: Complete paralysis of the lower and upper face on one side scores a
3 on the NIHSS facial palsy item.
6. In the NIHSS motor arm assessment, a patient's arm drifts down before 10
seconds but does not hit the bed. What is the score?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 1
RATIONALE: A score of 1 indicates some drift, meaning the arm drifts down but
does not hit the bed or other support within 10 seconds.
7. Which NIHSS item evaluates the patient's ability to perform finger-to-nose and
heel-to-shin tests?
A. Motor leg
B. Limb ataxia
C. Sensory
, D. Extinction and inattention
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Limb ataxia
RATIONALE: Limb ataxia is assessed using the finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin
tests to identify unilateral cerebellar lesions.
8. A patient responds to questions but speaks with severe slurring that is difficult
to understand. What is the NIHSS dysarthria score?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. Ungradable
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 2
RATIONALE: Severe dysarthria, where speech is very slurred and difficult to
understand, scores a 2 on the NIHSS.
9. What is the maximum possible total score on the NIH Stroke Scale?
A. 15
B. 25
C. 34
D. 42
CORRECT ANSWER: D. 42
RATIONALE: The maximum possible score on the NIHSS is 42, which indicates a
very severe stroke.
