What does a score of 8 or lower on the Glasgow Coma Scale indicate?

A score of 8 or lower on the Glasgow Coma Scale indicates severe brain injury. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a clinical assessment tool used to evaluate a person's level of consciousness after a traumatic brain injury. It assesses three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.

Scores on the GCS range from 3 to 15, where 3 indicates deep unresponsiveness or coma, and 15 indicates full alertness. A score of 8 or lower suggests significantly reduced neurological function and a high likelihood of severe impairment, such as the individual being in a comatose state or not being able to respond appropriately to stimuli. In practical terms, this level of score often correlates with a higher risk for poor outcomes, including potential death or life-long disabilities. This is why a score of 8 or less is associated specifically with severe brain injury and serious medical concern.