The Glasgow Coma Scale scoring scenario: a patient is alert and opens eyes to sound or conversation, speaks confusedly, and obeys commands. What is the approximate score?

The Glasgow Coma Scale scoring scenario: a patient is alert and opens eyes to sound or conversation, speaks confusedly, and obeys commands. What is the approximate score?

• A. 12
• B. 13
• C. 14
• D. 15

Answer: (B)

In the Glasgow Coma Scale, you add the three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each part has its own scoring: eye opening to speech earns 3 points (eyes open to sound but not spontaneously), verbal response when the person speaks confusedly earns 4 points, and the motor response when the person obeys commands earns 6 points. Adding them together gives 3 + 4 + 6 = 13. This total reflects a relatively high level of consciousness, since the maximum is 15 when all responses are normal.

In the Glasgow Coma Scale, you add the three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each part has its own scoring: eye opening to speech earns 3 points (eyes open to sound but not spontaneously), verbal response when the person speaks confusedly earns 4 points, and the motor response when the person obeys commands earns 6 points. Adding them together gives 3 + 4 + 6 = 13. This total reflects a relatively high level of consciousness, since the maximum is 15 when all responses are normal.