What is the maximum total score on the Glasgow Coma Scale?

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What is the maximum total score on the Glasgow Coma Scale?

The highest possible score on the Glasgow Coma Scale is 15. It combines three parts of the exam—eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each part has its own maximum: eye opening scores up to 4 when the eyes open spontaneously; verbal response scores up to 5 when the patient is oriented and speaks coherently; and motor response scores up to 6 when the patient obeys commands or purposefully localizes pain. If each part reaches its maximum, the total is 4 + 5 + 6 = 15. This represents the best level of consciousness. Clinically, higher scores mean less impairment, with scores typically interpreted as mild, moderate, or severe based on the total.

The highest possible score on the Glasgow Coma Scale is 15. It combines three parts of the exam—eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each part has its own maximum: eye opening scores up to 4 when the eyes open spontaneously; verbal response scores up to 5 when the patient is oriented and speaks coherently; and motor response scores up to 6 when the patient obeys commands or purposefully localizes pain. If each part reaches its maximum, the total is 4 + 5 + 6 = 15. This represents the best level of consciousness. Clinically, higher scores mean less impairment, with scores typically interpreted as mild, moderate, or severe based on the total.

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