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The Disability Rating Scale was developed as a way to track a traumatic brain injury patient from 'Coma to Community'. The scale was used to rate the effects of injury and decide how long recovery might take. The rating gives insight into the cognitive impairment of the individual with the TBI.
The idea of the DRS is similar to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. However, the point of the scale is to track the patient's progress over time while the GOS is used to simply determine the extent of a brain injury. In many ways, the DRS addresses many of the shortcomings of the GOS.
Training is not required to be able to administer the DRS. However, there is an optional video and powerpoint presentation. The test itself takes anywhere from 1 minute to 30 minutes to administer. It can be self-administered or done through an interview.