Which form of medical screening involves looking at a participant to assess status, rather than asking questions?

• A. Written
• B. Verbal
• C. Visual
• D. Physical

Answer: (C)

Assessing status through observation relies on noticing visible cues—the person’s appearance, movement, posture, facial expression, skin color, signs of distress, and overall responsiveness. This is visual screening, because you’re evaluating condition by looking rather than by asking questions or performing hands-on checks. Written and verbal screenings gather information from questions or responses, not from what you can see, while a physical screening involves touching or instrument-based examination. For a quick, noninvasive check based on what you can observe, visual screening is the best fit.