CRANIAL NERVE NORMAL FINDING
ASSESSMENT
OLFACTORY (Cranial Nerve I) Patient is able to describe odor.
OPTIC (Cranial Nerve II) Patient has 20/20 near and far vision.
OPTIC AND OCCULOMOTOR Patient has 20/20 near and far vision. Pupils
(Cranial Nerve II and III) are equal, round, and reactive to light and
accommodation.
Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light
OCCULOMOTOR, and accommodation. Both eyes move in the
TROCHLEAR, AND direction indicated as they follow the
ABDUCENS examiner’s penlight. Both eyes move in
(Cranial Nerve III, IV, VI) coordination.
TRIGEMINAL Patient feels touch on forehead, maxillary,
(Cranial Nerve V) and mandibular areas of face and chews
without difficulty.
Patient feels touch on forehead, maxillary,
TRIGEMINAL AND FACIAL and mandibular areas of face and chews
(Cranial nerve V and VII) without difficulty. Patient smiles, raises
eyebrows, puffs out cheeks, and closes eyes
without difficulty; patient can distinguish
different tastes.
FACIAL Patient smiles, raises eyebrows, puffs out
(Cranial Nerve VII) cheeks, and closes eyes without difficulty;
patient can distinguish different tastes.
VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR Patient hears whispered words or finger
(Cranial Nerve VIII) snaps in both ears; patient can walk upright
and maintain balance.
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL AND Gag reflex is present. Patient swallows and
VAGUS speaks without difficulty.
(Cranial Nerve IX and X)
ACCESSORY Patient shrugs shoulders and turns head side
(Cranial Nerve XI) to side against resistance.
HYPOGLOSSAL Tongue is midline and can be moved without
(Cranial Nerve XII) difficulty.
ABNORMAL FINDING
Patient has inability to identify odors (anosmia).
Patient has decreased visual acuity and visual fields.
Patient has decreased visual acuity and visual fields.
Patient has different size or reactive pupils bilaterally.
Patient has different size or reactive pupils bilaterally.
Patient has inability to look up, down, inward, outward, or
diagonally. Ptosis refers to drooping of the eyelid and may
be a sign of dysfunction. Patient has inability to look side
to side (lateral); patient reports diplopia (double vision).
Patient has weakened muscles responsible for chewing;
absent corneal reflex; and decreased sensation of forehead,
maxillary, or mandibular area.
Patient has weakened muscles responsible for chewing;
absent corneal reflex; and decreased sensation of forehead,
maxillary, or mandibular area. Patient has decreased
ability to taste. Patient has facial paralysis or asymmetry
of face such as facial droop.
Patient has decreased ability to taste. Patient has facial
paralysis or asymmetry of face such as facial droop.
Patient has decreased hearing in one or both ears and
decreased ability to walk upright or maintain balance.
Gag reflex is not present; patient has dysphagia. Slurred
speech or difficulty swallowing is present.
Patient has inability to shrug shoulders or turn head
against resistance.
Tongue is not midline or is weak.