Introduction to the Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale

The Rancho Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale (LCFS) is one of the earlier developed scales used to assess cognitive functioning in post-coma patients (Hagen et al, 1972). It was developed for use in the planning of treatment, tracking of recovery, and classifying of outcome levels. Use of the scale generates a classification of the patient in one of eight levels:
I - No response;
II - Generalized;
III - Localized;
IV - Confused-agitated;
V - Confused, inappropriate, non-agitated;
VI - Confused-appropriate;
VII - Automatic-appropriate;
VIII - Purposeful-appropriate.

Information regarding the Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale was contributed by Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Please contact Tamara Bushnik, PhD at for questions regarding the presented information.

If you find the information in the COMBI useful, please mention it when citing sources of information. The information on the Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale may be cited as:

Sander, A. (2002). The Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale. The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury. http://www.tbims.org/combi/lcfs ( accessed ).*

*Note: This citation is for the COMBI web material. Dr. Bushnik is not the scale author for the LCFS.