What is the fourth clue of impairment?

• A. Starts too soon
• B. Stops while walking
• C. Doesn't touch heel to toe
• D. Takes incorrect amount of steps

Answer: (C)

In this impairment assessment, a key focus is how well someone can perform precise foot placement while walking a straight line. Not touching heel to toe directly demonstrates a loss of fine motor control and balance required for that task. It shows the person cannot maintain proper alignment and steady movement, which is a clear sign of impairment on the walk-and-turn style test. The other cues—starting too soon, stopping while walking, or taking an incorrect number of steps—signal trouble too, but they don’t capture the specific difficulty with precise heel-to-toe placement that this clue targets. That precise misstep is the strongest indicator in this context, making it the best answer.