NIHSS and Aphasia

I'm sure that you have figured out the answer to this, but just in case you haven' - here you go!  

If the pt can move all extremities, you wouldn't score him for not following commands; you would only score him for his receptive aphasia.  I've had stubborn patients that refused to participate in their neuro assessment when I was in their room, but as soon as I would leave, they would move everything without any issues.  I scored them for what I saw outside the room and documented in the chart that they refused to participate in their exam when I was in the room.  You also have to consider seizure a possibility with 95%, if not all neuro pts.  You always have to watch neuro patients because what they won't do while you're in the room, a lot of the time they'll do when they think you're not watching.  You'll think they cannot move or they have had a neuro change and, next thing you know, they're jumping the side rails standing butt naked ready to go home.  

Assessing neuro patients is an ongoing process.  Not only do you see what they are truly able to do, but you are also able to catch neuro changes quicker and intervene immediately.  I always position myself directly outside my most critical/acute patient to see them throughout my shift.  

On the NIHSS, I would score exactly what happens during the assessment. It's important to be accurate, of course, but the stroke scale is only one tool. A patient who scores 4s on LUE and LLE but changes tv channels with left hand scores 4s with me, but I'll chart what he *can* do on his neuro assessment. I'm not saying I am certain this is best, but it seems consistent with the instructions in the training. After all, their score goes up by one just for being asleep.

I used to be less literal with the GCS. How due you core a patient who is trached with no speaking valve, but writes fluently? These days I give them a one with a comment. I can't tell you how many times I've written "grudgingly" after "follows commands." Q2 neuro checks are my least favorite thing about night shift. 

Most recently, I caught a fellow with pretty severe aphasia having a chat with his aide. Not totally fluent, but much more than I 'd gotten out of him. I mentioned in my note that she was pretty. First case I  can recall of selective aphasia, although I have been accused all my life of selective amnesia.

Anybody asked to perform an NIH stroke scale should be getting the NINDS validated training.  It addresses how to score each item based on issues like receptive aphasia.

One rule that is common for all the questions is that you don't score them for what you think they might be able to do based on separate observations or what you have observed them doing outside of when the scale is administered, otherwise there is no consistency to the scoring which makes the scale fairly worthless, although I would argue it is of little value in clinical decision making even when perfectly done. 

A stroke alert always makes me cringe because it means a post tPA patient will be there for the rest of the shift with the Q15m/30m/1hr neuro checks. Ugh. I always have the nurse handing off to me do a score at the bedside with me so I know how/why they scored as they did. Was there flattening of the nasolabial fold? Is that their normal facial asymmetry? Ugh. And, not everyone scores the same way no matter what. 

I only score based on what I see at the time of assessment. If a patient is not following any of the commands at the time, I will free text that they do not appear unable but the are unwilling to participate in the assessment. I also think it's not a very useful tool in any situations that I have encountered in my three years. 

Are you NIH certified?? The reason why I ask is because you shouldn't be required to perform it you do not understand the scoring/assessment system. The NIH assess 11 cognitive areas; the presence/severity of aphasia is evaluated  under the "Best Language' category (0=No aphasia; 1 Mild; 2=Severe; 3=mute). This area is specifically assessed by providing the patient with a picture scenario asking him/her to explain what is happening; while paying close attention to the patient speech rhythm and pattern. In the case of receptive aphasia, if the patient is unable to verbalize what is being asked, a score of 3 will be assigned. 

There is a spot in the NIHSS to document receptive aphasia. You need to document the NIHSS accurately every time - and that can wax and wane throughout the day, esp. at night. This patient's receptive aphasia will add to their NIHSS, resulting in a higher score.