Which item is NOT part of the FAST stroke assessment?

Which item is NOT part of the FAST stroke assessment?

• A. Balance difficulties.
• B. Facial droop
• C. Arm drift
• D. Speech difficulties

Answer: (A)

FAST is a rapid stroke screen that looks for three signs: facial droop, arm drift, and speech difficulties. Balance problems aren’t part of this quick assessment, which is why balance difficulties is the item that doesn’t fit FAST. The goal is to identify stroke quickly to get the patient to definitive care as soon as possible, so the test focuses on a few reliable, fast clues you can check in the field. In practice, you’d check facial droop by asking the person to smile and look for asymmetry, assess arm drift by having them extend both arms with palms up and noting if one arm drifts downward, and evaluate speech by asking a simple question or having them repeat a simple phrase to detect slurred or confused speech. Time is critical, so any positive sign should prompt immediate EMS activation. (Note: BEFAST adds Balance and Eyes to broaden the screen, but the classic FAST items remain facial droop, arm drift, and speech difficulties.)

FAST is a rapid stroke screen that looks for three signs: facial droop, arm drift, and speech difficulties. Balance problems aren’t part of this quick assessment, which is why balance difficulties is the item that doesn’t fit FAST. The goal is to identify stroke quickly to get the patient to definitive care as soon as possible, so the test focuses on a few reliable, fast clues you can check in the field.

In practice, you’d check facial droop by asking the person to smile and look for asymmetry, assess arm drift by having them extend both arms with palms up and noting if one arm drifts downward, and evaluate speech by asking a simple question or having them repeat a simple phrase to detect slurred or confused speech. Time is critical, so any positive sign should prompt immediate EMS activation. (Note: BEFAST adds Balance and Eyes to broaden the screen, but the classic FAST items remain facial droop, arm drift, and speech difficulties.)