What score on the Glasgow Coma Scale indicates a state of coma?

A score of 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) indicates a state of coma. The Glasgow Coma Scale is a clinical tool used to assess a person's level of consciousness and neurological functioning, particularly in cases of head injury or other conditions affecting consciousness. The scale ranges from 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating less responsiveness and higher scores reflecting higher levels of consciousness.

A score of 3 represents the lowest possible score, indicating that the individual is unresponsive to stimuli, has no eye opening, no verbal response, and no motor response. This level of responsiveness is characteristic of a deep coma. As the scores increase toward 15, individuals show varying degrees of responsiveness, with 15 indicating full consciousness and responsiveness. A score of 8 is generally considered to signify a moderate level of impairment and may indicate the need for medical intervention, while scores of 12 and 15 reflect higher levels of responsiveness and awareness.