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Title: Scoring Part 1B (LOC) of NIH Stroke Scale

Category: Neurology

Keywords: nihss, level of consciousness, stroke (PubMed Search)

Posted: 3/26/2009 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 7/21/2026)

  • The first part of the NIH Stroke Scale assesses level of consciousness in 3 parts, 1A, 1B, and 1C.
  • Part 1B assesses orientation by having the patient tell the examiner (1) their age and (2) the month.
  • Part 1B is scored in the following manner:

          -- Answers both questions correctly = 0

          -- Answers one of the two questions correctly = 1

          -- Answers neither question correctly = 2

  • If patient is unable to speak due to being intubated, having orotracheal trauma, dysarthria, a language barrier, or any other reason other than truly being aphasic, a score of 1 should be assigned.

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