Cranial Nerves Assessment Form

Cranial Function Method Normal Client’s

Nerve Findings Responses
I Olfacto Smell Ask client to Client should be
ry reception close eyes and able to
and identify distinguish
interpretatio different mild different smells
n aromas such
alcohol,
powder and
vinegar.
II Optic Visual Ask client to Client should be
acuity and read newsprint able to read
fields and determine newsprint and
objects about determine far
20 ft. away objects
III Oculom Extraocular Assess ocular Client should be
otor eye movements able to exhibit
movements, and pupil normal EOM and
lid reaction normal reaction
elevation, of pupils to light
papillary and
constriction accommodation
s lens shape
IV Trochle Downward Ask client to Client should be
ar and inward move eyeballs able to move
eye obliquely eyeballs
movement obliquely
V Trigemi Sensation of Elicit blink Client blinks
nal face, scalp, reflex by whenever sclera
cornea, and lightly is lightly
oral and touching touched; able to
nasal lateral sclera; feel the wisp of
mucous to test cotton over the
membranes. sensation, area touched;
Chewing wipe a wisp of able to
movements cotton over discriminate
of the jaw client’s blunt and sharp
forehead for stimuli
light sensation
and use
alternating
blunt and
sharp ends of
safety pin to
test deep
sensation

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 Assess skin
sensation as of
ophthalmic Client is able to
branch above sense and
distinguish
different stimuli

Ask client to
clench teeth

Client should be
able to clench
teeth
VI Abduce Lateral eye Ask client to Client should be
ns movement move eyeball able to move
laterally eyeballs
laterally
VII Facial Taste on Ask client to Client should be
anterior 2/3 do different able to do
of the facial different facial
tongue expressions expressions
Facial such as such as smiling,
movement, smiling, frowning and
eye closure, frowning and raising of
labial raising of eyebrows; able
speech eyebrows; ask to identify
client to different tastes
identify such as sweet,
various tastes salty and bitter
placed on the taste
tip and sides
of the mouth:
sugar, salt and
coffee
VII Acousti Hearing and Assess client’s Client should be
I c balance ability to hear able to hear
loud and soft loud and soft
spoken words; spoken words;
do the watch able to hear
tick test ticking of watch
on both ears
IX Glosso Taste on Apply taste on Client should be
pharyn posterior posterior able to identify
geal 1/3 of tongue for different tastes
tongue, identification such as sweet,
pharyngeal (sugar, salt salty and bitter
gag reflex, and coffee); taste; able to

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 sensation ask client to move tongue
from the move tongue from side to side
eardrum from side to and up and
and ear side and up down; able to
canal. and down; ask swallow without
Swallowing client to difficulty, with
and swallow and (+) gag reflex
phonation elicit gag
muscles of reflex through
the pharynx sticking a
clean tongue
depressor into
client’s mouth
X Vagus Sensation Ask client to Client should be
from swallow; able to swallow
pharynx, assess client’s without
viscera, speech for difficulty; has
carotid body hoarseness absence of
and carotid hoarseness in
sinus speech
XI Spinal Trapezius Ask client to Client should be
access and shrug able to shrug
ory sternocledo shoulders and shoulders and
mastoid turn head from turn head from
muscle side to side side to side
movement against against
resistance resistance from
from nurse’s nurse’s hands
hands
XII Hypogl Tongue Ask client to Client should be
ossal movement protrude able to protrude
for speech, tongue at tongue at
sound midline, then midline and
articulation move it side to move it side to
and side side
swallowing

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