The NIH has developed a scoring system called a stroke scale that helps predict the severity and outcome of stroke. It's a complicated formula that includes 11 different factors measured during a neurological exam:
- Level of consciousness
- Gaze
- Visual field
- Facial movement
- Motor function in arms
- Motor function in legs
- Coordination
- Sensory loss
- Language problems
- Ability to articulate
- Attention
Each impairment noted during the exam is assigned a certain number of points, so the higher the score, the worse the stroke:
0 No stroke
1 – 4 Minor stroke
5 – 15 Moderate stroke
15 – 20 Moderate to severe stroke
21 – 42 Severe stroke
Up to 70 percent of stroke patients who score less than 10 have a favorable outlook after a year, while less than 16 percent who score more than 20 do well.
