# Measuring Brain Injury Severity with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) | Available 24/7 ## How the Glasgow Coma Scale is Administered The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most common scoring system used by physicians in Kansas and Missouri (and pretty much everywhere) to identify the symptoms and level of impairment or consciousness of an accident victim suffering from a traumatic brain injury. The GCS results help measure the severity of an acute brain injury. As a Kansas City brain injury lawyer, I’ve seen many of our law firm clients benefit from the GCS test.  It is easy to administer, reliable and objective, and has strong correlation with potential medical outcomes after a severe brain injury. The GCS is typically administered by a trained medical staff person or physician either at the scene of an accident or injury or immediately thereafter at the hospital emergency room or other urgent trauma care locations.  Later, it can be re-administered to determine if the symptoms and severity of the injury have improved, worsened or remained stable. The GCS measures the following functions: **Motor Response (M)** - 6 = obeys command - 5 = localizing - 4 = normal flexion - 3 = abnormal flexion - 2 = extension - 1 = none - NT = not testable **Eye Opening (E)** - 4 = spontaneous - 3 = to sound - 2 = to pressure - 1 = none - NT = not testable **Verbal Response (V)** - 5 = orientated - 4 = confused - 3 = words, but not coherent - 2 = sounds, but no words - 1 = none - NT = not testable When administering the GCS, medical professionals will use the above scales to rate the motor response, the eye opening response, and the verbal response a brain injury victim makes. The total sum of these numbers is equal to the final GCS score or grade. ![Kevin McManus Law](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/wp-content/themes/kevin-mc-redesign/assets/app/img/cta-location-thumb.jpg) Injured in a Personal Injury? Get the compensation you deserve with trusted legal guidance. ![Kevin McManus Law](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/wp-content/themes/kevin-mc-redesign/assets/app/svg/logotype.svg) [GET HELP NOW](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/contact/) Get Free Case Evaluation [(816) 203-0143](tel:+18162030143) ### Understanding the Glasgow Coma Scale for Brain Injuries A patient’s Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) should be documented and provided on a coma scale chart. This chart makes it easy to identify any improvement or worsening of a brain injury victim’s condition promptly so appropriate medical action can be taken. While the sum of the GCS score is important, the individual scores in each category should also be examined. For instance, the individual scores of a brain injury patient’s GCS should be reported separately (such as, E4V3M2) as well as added together to give a total Coma Score (e.g E4V3M2 = 9). For instance, a GCS score may be documented in medical records or the medical charts as GCS 9 = E4V3M2. As we have seen with our brain injury clients, no brain injury is insignificant, and every brain injury is different.  However, in general, the GCS score is used to grade the severity of a brain injury as follows: - **Severe: GCS 8 or less** - **Moderate: GCS 9-12** - **Mild: GCS 13-15** Mild brain injuries should not be discounted or ignored.  Mild brain injuries, such as [concussions](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/faqs/are-concussions-considered-traumatic-brain-injuries/), can cause temporary or permanent neurological symptoms.  These injuries are often difficult to diagnose, and many [tests used to diagnose brain injuries](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/faqs/what-kind-of-tests-can-diagnose-a-tbi/), such as neuro-imaging tests like CT scan or MRI, may fail to indicate any brain injury at all. Moderate and severe brain injuries can lead to long-term, life-changing impairments in a variety of areas, including motor and mobility skills, cognition (thinking skills), and even one’s emotional and behavioral functioning. ### Limitations of the Glasgow Coma Scale The GCS is not a perfect test or predictor of severity, and certain factors can reduce its accuracy.  Such factors include low blood oxygen, impairment from drug use or alcohol intoxication, and traumatic shock.  ### The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale for Children Another limitation in the GCS is that it should not be used with children, particularly young children with undeveloped language skills. Instead, there is a modified scoring system that is used for measuring the severity of brain injury in children.  This modified test is known as the Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale, or PGCS. The PGCS uses the same three tests:  eye, verbal, and motor response. In addition, the PCGS considers these three values separately as well as together. Below is the modified grading scale for the PGCS: **Eye Opening (E)** - 4 = spontaneous - 3 = to voice - 2 = to pressure - 1 = none - NT = not testable **Verbal Response (V)** - 5 = smiles, oriented to sounds, follows objects, interacts - 4 = cries but consolable, inappropriate interactions - 3 = inconsistently inconsolable, moaning - 2 = inconsolable, agitated - 1 = none - NT = not testable **Motor Response (M)** - 6 = moves spontaneously or purposefully - 5 = localizing (withdraws from touch) - 4 = normal flexion (withdraws to pain) - 3 = abnormal flexion (decorticate response) - 2 = extension (decerebrate response) - 1 = none - NT = not testable Pediatric brain injuries are classified by severity using the same scoring levels as adults, i.e. 8 or lower reflecting the most severe, 9-12 is a moderate injury, and 13-15 indicating a mild TBI. As in adults, moderate and severe injuries often result in significant long-term impairments. ![Kevin McManus Law](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/wp-content/themes/kevin-mc-redesign/assets/app/img/cta-long-term.jpg) Denied Personal Injury Benefits? We’ll help you appeal and secure your rightful benefits. ![Kevin McManus Law](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/wp-content/themes/kevin-mc-redesign/assets/app/svg/logotype.svg) [GET HELP NOW](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/contact/) Get Free Case Evaluation [(816) 203-0143](tel:+18162030143) ### Contact Our Kansas City Brain Injury Lawyer Brain injuries — and the legal claims that arise from them — can be very complex and difficult to navigate. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury due to the negligence or recklessness of another, please know that you are not alone.  Our Kansas City brain injury lawyer and our legal team are ready to assist you.     Please give us a call at **816-203-0143** or contact us on ourwebsite.  We are happy to help you as we have helped countless others, whether it is simply answering your questions or providing a free confidential consultation.  There is a lot at stake in a brain injury case, so make sure you get the fair treatment and compensation you deserve.  Call us today.   Personal Injury Blog Posts: [### KC Care Luncheon a Success Our attorney, Kevin McManus, was pleased to sponsor and attend the recent We Care KC Luncheon in downtown Kansas City held on...](https://www.kevinmcmanuslaw.com/blog/kc-care-luncheon-a-success/) [### Did You Break Your Wrist, Hand or Arm in an Accident in Missouri or Kansas? Here’s How to Calculate a Fair Settlement Offer. 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