NIHSS Score Sheet

The NIHSS is specifically designed to assess and quantify the severity of neurological deficits in individuals with suspected or confirmed stroke. Unlike general neurological assessment tools, the NIHSS focuses on stroke-related deficits, providing a standardized and quantitative evaluation. It is particularly tailored for acute stroke care and is widely used in the context of thrombolytic therapy and endovascular interventions.

The NIHSS is usually administered during the initial assessment of individuals presenting with symptoms suggestive of acute stroke. Trained healthcare professionals, including neurologists, emergency physicians, stroke team members, and other qualified personnel, typically perform the NIHSS.

The NIHSS score plays a significant role in guiding treatment decisions, especially concerning thrombolytic therapy (such as alteplase) and endovascular interventions for ischemic strokes. Higher NIHSS scores may indicate more severe strokes, making patients potential candidates for more aggressive and time-sensitive interventions.