Which scale is commonly used to assess stroke severity?

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is the correct choice for assessing stroke severity. This scale is specifically designed to provide a quantitative measure of stroke-related neurological deficits. It evaluates various domains, such as consciousness, vision, movement, sensation, speech, and language, giving clinicians a comprehensive assessment of the impact of a stroke on a patient's functioning.

The NIHSS is widely used in clinical settings and research because it helps determine the prognosis and guides treatment decisions. Its scoring system allows healthcare professionals to track changes in a patient's condition over time, making it an essential tool in acute stroke management.

In contrast, the Glasgow Coma Scale primarily assesses the level of consciousness and responsiveness in patients with brain injuries, rather than providing a broad overview of functional deficits specific to strokes. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment focuses on physical rehabilitation post-stroke and is used to evaluate motor function, balance, sensation, and joint function, but it is not a direct measure of stroke severity at the time of presentation. The Modified Rankin Scale measures the degree of disability or dependence in patients after a stroke but is more focused on long-term outcomes rather than acute assessment.