Approach to Neuro Exam

Question 1

What refers to defective articulation and is usually caused by defect in motor control of speech apparatus?

Answer 1

Dysarthria

Question 2

What is a disorder in producing or understanding language, usually caused by lesion in left hemisphere?

Answer 2

Aphasia

Question 3

A and O x 1 means?

Answer 3

Oriented to Person (patient knows their name and can recognize significant others)

Question 4

A and O x 2 means?

Answer 4

Oriented to Person and Place (Knows their name and where they are)

Question 5

A and O x 3 means?

Answer 5

Oriented to Person, Place, and Time (Knows their name, where they are and the date)

Question 6

A and O x 4 means?

Answer 6

Oriented to Person, Place, Time, and event (Knows their name, where they are, the date and can explain why they are at the healthcare facility)

Question 7

What term describes chronic anhedonia and can be diagnosed with questions such as:
“Have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things”
“Have you been feeling down or hopeless”

Answer 7

Depression

Question 8

What condition is screened for by using Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) diagnostic algorithm, is common in older adults during hospitalization, and can be caused by effect of medication or acute infection?

Answer 8

Delirium

Question 9

What must you first eliminate before diagnosing dementia?

Answer 9

Depression and delirium

Question 10

Between delirium and dementia, which is reversible?

Answer 10

Delirium

Question 11

What CN is being assessed when checking direct pupil constriction with light source?

Answer 11

CN II

Question 12

What CN is being assessed when checking palate elevation with “aaaah”

Answer 12

CN X

Question 13

What CN is being assessed when touching forehead?

Answer 13

CN V sensory component

Question 14

What CN is being assessed when the patient clenches jaw?

Answer 14

CN V motor component

Question 15

What CN is being assessed when checking extraocular muscles with H test?

Answer 15

CN III, IV, VI

Question 16

What CN is being assessed when checking hearing with finger rub test or whisper test?

Answer 16

CN VIII

Question 17

What CN is being assessed when the patient smiles, frown, and puffs cheeks?

Answer 17

CN VII

Question 18

What CN is being assessed when checking the strength of tongue against cheeks and sticking it out in the middle?

Answer 18

CN XII

Question 19

What CN is being assessed when the patient shrugs their shoulders and turns head L and R?

Answer 19

CN XI

Question 20

Ptosis, pupillary dilation of asymmetry, and compressive brainstem lesions are signs of lesion to?

Answer 20

CN III

Question 21

Vulnerable to head trauma, exotropia, vertical diplopia and head tilting are signs of lesion to?

Answer 21

CN IV

Question 22

Convergent strabismus and horizontal diplopia are signs of lesion to?

Answer 22

CN VI

Question 23

Decreased sensation of face and mucous membranes, loss of corneal reflex, weakness of the muscles of mastication, and jaw deviation toward weak side are all issues with which CN?

Answer 23

CN V

Question 24

Bell’s Palsy, loss of corneal reflex, hyperacusis, and crocodile tear syndrome are all issues with which CN?

Answer 24

CN VII

Question 25

Disequilibrium, nystagmus, destructive sensorineural hearing loss, and irritative lesion causing tinnitus are issues with which CN?

Answer 25

VIII

Question 26

Hoarseness, absent gag reflex, and difficulty swallowing are all issues with which CN?

Answer 26

CN IX and X

Question 27

Difficulty turning head to opposite side or unilateral shoulder droop are issues with which CN?

Answer 27

CN XI

Question 28

The tongue deviated to side of lesion is an issue with which CN?

Answer 28

CN XII

Question 29

How should CN testing NOT be documented?

Answer 29

Cranial nerves are intact

Question 30

How should CN testing be documented?

Answer 30

Cranial nerves II-XII are intact to testing

Question 31

What can be used to test pain?

Answer 31

Broken tongue depressor or wooden stick

Question 32

What can be used to test temp?

Answer 32

Tubes filled with hot and cold water

Question 33

What can be used to test vibration?

Answer 33

128 Hz tuning fork on bony prominence

Question 34

What can be used to test proprioception?

Answer 34

Grasping sides of patients big toe between thumb and index finger (that's nasty)

Question 35

What term describes the ability to identify shapes of objects?

Answer 35

Stereognosis

Question 36

What term describes the ability to identify numbers written on palm?

Answer 36

Graphesthesia

Question 37

Rapid alternating movements, finger to nose test, heel to shin test all test what structure?

Answer 37

Cerebellum

Question 38

What direction do the toes point when performing Babinski sign?

Answer 38

Up

Question 39

What nerve does the Brudzinski sign stretch?

Answer 39

Femoral

Question 40

What nerve does the Kernig sign stretch?

Answer 40

Sciatic

Question 41

What cranial nerve is being assessed when using a Snellen eye chart for visual acuity?

Answer 41

CN II