Which tool is used to measure the severity of a traumatic brain injury?

• A. Electroencephalogram
• B. Glasgow Coma Scale
• C. Pupillary Light Reflex Assessment
• D. Brainstem Reflex Test

Answer: (B)

Severity in traumatic brain injury is best understood through a standardized scale that captures how awake and responsive a patient is. The Glasgow Coma Scale does this by combining three quick assessments—eye opening, verbal response, and motor response—into a single score. The higher the score, the better the level of consciousness; lower scores reflect greater impairment. This one number helps classify injury as mild, moderate, or severe and guides urgent management and prognosis, which is why it’s the go-to tool in acute care settings. Other options don’t provide an overall severity rating: EEG measures brain electrical activity but isn’t a standardized severity scale; pupillary light reflex and brainstem reflex tests check specific pathways or signs of deterioration but don’t summarize overall injury severity.