A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 indicates which category of brain injury?

A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 indicates which category of brain injury?

• A. Moderate
• B. Mild
• C. Severe
• D. Critical

Answer: (B)

Scores on the Glasgow Coma Scale define injury severity by summing eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. The standard bands are mild for 13–15, moderate for 9–12, and severe for 8 or less. A total of 14 falls in the mild range because it sits between 13 and 15, indicating the patient is largely awake with only minor impairment. For example, you could have eye opening to speech (3), verbal response oriented (5), and motor response obeys commands (6), totaling 14. The term “critical” isn’t part of the official classification; a lower score (9–12) would indicate moderate injury, and 8 or below would indicate severe injury.

Scores on the Glasgow Coma Scale define injury severity by summing eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. The standard bands are mild for 13–15, moderate for 9–12, and severe for 8 or less. A total of 14 falls in the mild range because it sits between 13 and 15, indicating the patient is largely awake with only minor impairment. For example, you could have eye opening to speech (3), verbal response oriented (5), and motor response obeys commands (6), totaling 14. The term “critical” isn’t part of the official classification; a lower score (9–12) would indicate moderate injury, and 8 or below would indicate severe injury.