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Title: Verbal Component of GCS (correction)

Category: Neurology

Keywords: gcs, glasgow coma scale, verbal response (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/23/2009 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 3/4/2026)

 

Below is an edited version of this week's neurological clinical pearl. Somehow the scores and their definitions showed up incorrectly matched.  See corrections below.

 

  • Verbal function is one of the three neurologic responses assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale ( GCS).
  • This response is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the best response.
    • 5 = Oriented (responds coherently and appropriately to questions such as name, age, situation).
    • 4 = Confused (responds to questions coherently but with some disorientation and confusion).
    • 3 = Inappropriate words (random articulated speech but no conversational exchange).
    • 2 = Incomprehensible sounds (moaning but no words).
    • 1 = No verbal response.