NIH Stroke Scale
Score the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on its 15 items and return the total (0-42) plus the conventional severity band (minor 1-4, moderate 5-15, moderate-to-severe 16-20, severe >=21).
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- 2 Best gaze
- 0
- 3 Visual fields
- 0
- 4 Facial palsy
- 1
- 5 Motor arm, sum of left + right
- 2
- 6 Motor leg, sum of left + right
- 0
- 7 Limb ataxia
- 0
- 8 Sensory
- 0
- 9 Best language
- 1
- 10 Dysarthria
- 0
- 11 Extinction and inattention
- 0
The other 3 values
- 1a Level of consciousness
- 1
- 1b LOC questions
- 0
- 1c LOC commands
- 0
Result: NIHSS total 5 (Moderate stroke).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- 0
- No stroke symptoms per NIH/NINDS interpretation guide.
- 1-4
- Minor stroke per NIH/NINDS interpretation guide.
- 5-15
- Moderate stroke per NIH/NINDS interpretation guide.
- 16-20
- Moderate-to-severe stroke per NIH/NINDS interpretation guide.
- 21-42
- Severe stroke per NIH/NINDS interpretation guide.
What you enter
- 1a Level of consciousness (0-3)
- 1b LOC questions (0-2)
- 1c LOC commands (0-2)
- 2 Best gaze (0-2)
- 3 Visual fields (0-3)
- 4 Facial palsy (0-3)
- 5 Motor arm, sum of left + right (0-8)
- 6 Motor leg, sum of left + right (0-8)
- 7 Limb ataxia (0-2)
- 8 Sensory (0-2)
The other 3 fields
- 9 Best language (0-3)
- 10 Dysarthria (0-2)
- 11 Extinction and inattention (0-2)
What this is
Sophie Well presents the items in the standard administration order so the score can be entered as the exam progresses. NIHSS is a public-domain instrument maintained by NIH/NINDS.
When to use it
Use NIHSS for acute ischemic stroke assessment, eligibility decisions for IV thrombolysis and endovascular therapy, and serial monitoring. NIHSS under-detects posterior-circulation strokes and is operator-dependent; certification is the standard. A normal NIHSS does not rule out stroke, and the score is one input into reperfusion decisions, not a substitute for the imaging and time-of-onset workup.
How this is calculated
Brott T, Adams HP Jr, et al. Measurements of acute cerebral infarction: a clinical examination scale. Stroke. 1989;20(7):864-870. Public-domain instrument maintained by NIH/NINDS. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.
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