Glasgow Coma Scale facts for kids

The Glasgow Coma Scale (often called GCS) is a special tool doctors use to check how awake and aware a person is. It helps them understand how well someone's brain is working, especially after an injury or illness.

This scale was created in 1974 by two professors, Graham Teasdale and Bryan J. Jennett, at the University of Glasgow. Doctors often use the GCS in places like the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). It helps them keep track of a patient's condition over time.

The GCS has three main parts, or tests. Doctors give a score for each test. These scores are then added together to get the total GCS score. The highest possible score is 15. This means the person is fully awake and aware. The lowest score is 3. A score of 3 is usually seen in people with very serious brain injuries, like brain death or a deep coma.

How Does GCS Work?

The Glasgow Coma Scale looks at three different ways a person responds. These are their eye opening, their verbal (talking) responses, and their motor (movement) responses. Each response gets a score, and then these scores are added up.

The Three Tests of GCS

Here's a closer look at the three parts of the GCS:

Eye Response

This part checks how a person's eyes open.

• A score of 4 means their eyes open on their own.
• A score of 3 means their eyes open when someone speaks to them.
• A score of 2 means their eyes open only when they feel pain.
• A score of 1 means their eyes do not open at all.

Verbal Response

This part checks how a person talks or makes sounds.

• A score of 5 means they are "oriented." This means they know who they are, where they are, and what time it is.
• A score of 4 means they are "confused." They might be talking, but their answers don't make sense or are mixed up.
• A score of 3 means they say "inappropriate words." They might say words, but they don't form sentences or answer questions.
• A score of 2 means they make "meaningless sounds," like groans or moans.
• A score of 1 means they make no sounds at all.

Motor Response

This part checks how a person moves.

• A score of 6 means they can obey commands, like "squeeze my hand."
• A score of 5 means they can "localize pain." If you pinch them, they try to move your hand away.
• A score of 4 means they "withdraw from pain." They pull their arm or leg away from a painful stimulus.
• A score of 3 means they show "decorticate posturing" to pain. This is a specific way their body stiffens and bends their arms towards their chest.
• A score of 2 means they show "decerebrate posturing" to pain. This is another specific way their body stiffens, but their arms and legs straighten out.
• A score of 1 means they make no movements at all.

Understanding the Scores

The scores from these three tests are added together. The lowest total score is 3 (1+1+1). The highest total score is 15 (4+5+6). Doctors use this total score to quickly understand how conscious a person is and if their condition is getting better or worse.

See also

In Spanish: Escala de coma de Glasgow para niños