In the ABCDE approach, what does Disability assess?

• A. Neurologic status including responsiveness and pupils
• B. Airway patency
• C. Circulation status
• D. Exposure to environment

Answer: (A)

Disability in the ABCDE approach evaluates neurologic status. It is the quick check of brain function after an injury or illness, focusing on how awake and responsive the patient is and what the pupils are doing. Clinicians assess level of consciousness using a fast scale (such as AVPU or a pediatric-friendly Glasgow Coma Scale) to gauge responsiveness, and they examine pupil size and reactivity to light as a window into brain function. This part helps identify changes in mental status, potential traumatic brain injury, hypoxia, or other CNS issues that require prompt attention. The other components—airway patency, breathing, circulation, and exposure—address different systems and are explored in their respective sections, not in Disability.