Cranial Nerve Assessment

Cranial Nerve 1

Olfactory

• Identify a smell

Cranial Nerve 2

Optic

• Visual acuity: identify number or fingers held up

• Visual field: identify number of fingers in periphery (check one eye at a time)

Cranial Nerve 3

Oculomotor

• Compare pupils with penlight/cell phone flashlight

Cranial Nerve 4

Trochlear

• Follow penlight/finger with just the eyes (diagonals)

Cranial Nerve 5

Trigeminal

• Sensory: close eyes, identify where touching on face

• Motor: hold mouth open while you try to close

Cranial Nerve 6

Abducens

• Follow penlight/finger with just the eyes (up, down, right to left)

Cranial Nerve 7

Facial

• Sensory: identify a taste

• Motor: smile, wrinkle forehead, wink, puff cheeks

Cranial Nerve 8

Vestibulocochlear

• Hearing: identify a sound

• Balance: balance on one foot (both sides)

Cranial Nerve 9

Glossopharyngeal

• Say "ah", swallow, test gag reflex

Cranial Nerve 10

Vagus

• Say "ah", swallow, test gag reflex

Cranial Nerve 11

Accessory

• Resisted shoulder shrug

Cranial Nerve 12

Hypoglossal

• Tongue movement/ resisted tongue movement with tongue depressor