In the Glasgow Coma Scale, which Verbal score corresponds to inappropriate words?

In the Glasgow Coma Scale, which Verbal score corresponds to inappropriate words?

• A. 5
• B. 4
• C. 3
• D. 2

Answer: (C)

Verbal response in the Glasgow Coma Scale reflects how well a patient can speak and convey meaningful content. The categories, from best to worst, describe increasingly impaired language: the patient is oriented and can answer questions coherently, then becomes confused, then produces real words that are inappropriate or irrelevant, then speaks only in incomprehensible sounds, and finally shows no verbal response. Inappropriate words means the patient is speaking real words, but the content is inappropriate, nonsensical, or disorganized and does not form a meaningful sentence or answer. It shows that language production is present, but processing and content are markedly impaired. This level is more impaired than being able to speak clearly but disoriented (a higher level of function), yet less impaired than producing only meaningless sounds or nothing at all. So the descriptor that best matches inappropriate words is the verbal level where words are produced but are not appropriate or coherent.

Verbal response in the Glasgow Coma Scale reflects how well a patient can speak and convey meaningful content. The categories, from best to worst, describe increasingly impaired language: the patient is oriented and can answer questions coherently, then becomes confused, then produces real words that are inappropriate or irrelevant, then speaks only in incomprehensible sounds, and finally shows no verbal response.

Inappropriate words means the patient is speaking real words, but the content is inappropriate, nonsensical, or disorganized and does not form a meaningful sentence or answer. It shows that language production is present, but processing and content are markedly impaired. This level is more impaired than being able to speak clearly but disoriented (a higher level of function), yet less impaired than producing only meaningless sounds or nothing at all.

So the descriptor that best matches inappropriate words is the verbal level where words are produced but are not appropriate or coherent.