North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What rating on the GCS scale indicates incomprehensible sounds?

1. 5

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

The correct answer is: 3

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess the level of consciousness in patients, particularly after a head injury or in other medical emergencies. The scale ranges from 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating a more severe impairment of consciousness. A score of 3 on the verbal response component of the GCS indicates that a patient is making incomprehensible sounds, which means they cannot speak meaningful words or communicate effectively, but they may be making some vocalizations. This is a key indicator of the depth of a patient's coma and the severity of their condition. Understanding the context of other scores helps clarify why a score of 3 represents incomprehensible sounds. For example, a score of 5 indicates oriented speech, where the individual can respond appropriately and coherently. A score of 4 reflects confused speech, meaning the patient may speak with some coherence but lacks clarity or is disoriented. A score of 2 indicates a lack of verbal responsiveness to stimuli, showing a more serious level of impairment than incomprehensible sounds, where the patient does not respond at all verbally. Thus, a score of 3 distinctly indicates that the patient can make sounds but is not able to form words or coherent speech, providing clear insight