Glasgow Coma Scale vs. Ranchos Los Amigos

[edieb]

Can any of the neuropsychologists on here tell me the difference between the Ranchos Los Amigos Scale and the Glasgow Coma Scale? It seems like they are measuring recovery from brain injury and that the person does not have to be alert when either one is administered.

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[stigmata]

RLAS is much more sensitive to subtle damage and change, and Glasgow is more skewed to the lowest end of functioning.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

RLAS is much more sensitive to subtle damage and change, and Glasgow is more skewed to the lowest end of functioning.

I'm not sure "sensitive" is the word I'd use, but I do agree that the GCS skews to a much lower level of functional evaluation. The GCS is fine for an EMT report to the ED, but it is insufficient for most everything else. I've found the RLAS to be an easily understood measure, particularly in a rehabilitation setting where there will be many more shades of gray. With that being said, it still leaves a lot to be desired, particularly if you are the neuropsychologist/health psychologist/etc. on staff.