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Disorders of consciousness after a coma are both a clinical challenge for caregivers and a unique research opportunity on human consciousness for neuroscientists. To set standards in this constantly evolving field, a nosological classification now clearly defines the different states of impaired consciousness and their diagnostic clinical signs. The gold standard behavioral evaluation of these patients is based on standardized scales that must be administered repeatedly. However, the sole clinical examination is not self-sufficient as sensorimotor impairments, aphasia, or fluctuations of vigilance levels can conceal the presence of conscious awareness. New methods using neuroimaging and neurophysiology, combined with innovative computational tools, can complement the clinical diagnosis and help assess these patients more accurately. Regarding treatment, non-invasive neurostimulation and pharmacological agents have demonstrated positive effects on recovery, but larger scale placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to determine their efficacy and response rate more accurately. A multimodal integration of these new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques is necessary to offer patients with severe brain injury a more personalized and adapted form of care.