Final answer:
An older patient with one-sided weakness, altered mental status, and difficulty speaking should be suspected of having a stroke. Tests for muscle strength and sensation, alongside a CT scan and aspirin therapy, are critical in confirming the diagnosis and starting treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the older patient with one-sided weakness, altered mental status, and difficulty speaking, the EMT-B should suspect a stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA). This is confirmed by the presence of hemiparesis, altered sensation, and difficulty with speech, which are classic signs indicating that the brain is not receiving adequate blood flow, potentially due to a blood clot. Quick action, including a neurological exam and a CT scan, is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment like administration of aspirin therapy to prevent further clots.
Muscle strength tests, such as having a patient push against resistance and the pronator drift test, assess for potential deficits in one corticospinal tract versus the other. Symptoms like stiff neck and the ability to only speak a few words may indicate severe neurological impacts. A swift neurological evaluation is essential in determining the cause and commencing the appropriate intervention.