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.