NIH Stroke Scale
NIH Stroke Scale - a deterministic tool in Sophie Well's Clinical Scoring & Risk group.
Open the NIH Stroke Scale → Runs in your browser. No signup, no tracking.
What this is
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). 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.
References
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 ↗
Worked example: NIHSS total 5 (Moderate stroke).
Sophie Well is a reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice. Does not replace clinician judgment, professional billing review, or legal counsel.