What does FASTED stand for?

What does FASTED stand for?

• A. F = Facial Palsy (0, 1); A = Arm Weakness (0, 1, 2); S = Speech Changes (0, 1, 2); T = Time; E = Eye Deviation (0, 1, 2); D = Denial/Neglect (0, 1, 2)
• B. F = Facial Palsy; A = Arm Weakness; S = Speech Changes; T = Time; E = Eye Deviation; D = Denial/Neglect
• C. F = Facial Palsy (0-2); A = Arm Strength (0-2); S = Speech Changes (0-2); T = Time; E = Eye Deviation (0-2); D = Denial/Neglect (0-2)
• D. F = Facial Palsy; A = Arm Strength; S = Speech Clarity; T = Time; E = Eye Deviation; D = Denial

Answer: (A)

FASTED is an expanded field stroke assessment that adds two signs to the familiar FAST screen to help gauge severity quickly. Each domain looks for a specific deficit: facial palsy, arm weakness, and speech changes, plus eye deviation and denial/neglect, with a practical scoring approach. Facial palsy is scored as 0 or 1 because a facial droop can be present without a full two-point measure. Arm weakness uses a 0–2 scale to reflect none, drift or mild weakness, and more pronounced weakness. Speech changes are also scored 0–2 to capture both slurred speech and more significant aphasia. Time remains a critical, separate factor—the onset time is recorded because it drives treatment decisions. Eye deviation and denial/neglect are scored 0–2 to capture signs of more extensive cortical involvement. This combination—F for facial palsy (0–1), A for arm weakness (0–2), S for speech changes (0–2), T for time, E for eye deviation (0–2), D for denial/neglect (0–2)—best fits the FASTED concept, matching the commonly used FAST-ED framework and its scoring scheme. The other options omit or misstate these elements or the scoring ranges, so they don’t align with how FASTED is applied in practice.

FASTED is an expanded field stroke assessment that adds two signs to the familiar FAST screen to help gauge severity quickly. Each domain looks for a specific deficit: facial palsy, arm weakness, and speech changes, plus eye deviation and denial/neglect, with a practical scoring approach. Facial palsy is scored as 0 or 1 because a facial droop can be present without a full two-point measure. Arm weakness uses a 0–2 scale to reflect none, drift or mild weakness, and more pronounced weakness. Speech changes are also scored 0–2 to capture both slurred speech and more significant aphasia. Time remains a critical, separate factor—the onset time is recorded because it drives treatment decisions. Eye deviation and denial/neglect are scored 0–2 to capture signs of more extensive cortical involvement. This combination—F for facial palsy (0–1), A for arm weakness (0–2), S for speech changes (0–2), T for time, E for eye deviation (0–2), D for denial/neglect (0–2)—best fits the FASTED concept, matching the commonly used FAST-ED framework and its scoring scheme. The other options omit or misstate these elements or the scoring ranges, so they don’t align with how FASTED is applied in practice.