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.
