The Diagnostic Process Step 1: Neurological Exam Meeting with a neuromuscular specialist will help ensure that the medical evaluation has been thorough and complete. The neuromuscular specialist will either assist in making a diagnosis or offer a second opinion to help confirm the possible diagnosis of ALS.Ī neuromuscular specialist will review the results of the tests that have already been performed and may repeat some of them to see if there have been any changes over time. As a next step, individuals are often referred to a neuromuscular specialist, who specializes in nerves and muscles.

was empathetic, listened to my issues and concerns, checked me carefully and increased my confidence that I am in excellent hands! – ALS Clinic PatientĮven after the tests rule out other disorders, a diagnosis of ALS may still be unclear. The type of symptoms, how fast or how slow they progress and change, and what other disease have to be excluded will affect the time it takes to determine the diagnosis.ĭr. Typically, a neurologist will perform tests to rule out many of the other possible causes of a patient’s symptoms. Once the symptoms are recognized as a neurological problem, a neurologist will be consulted.Ī neurologist will perform a detailed physical examination that focuses on muscle strength, reflexes, coordination, and sensation. Consulting with other types of doctors is a common experience that many patients have. The time that elapses between first noticing symptoms to visiting the doctor varies widely among patients and often depends on how rapidly symptoms worsen.Ī PCP typically refers an individual to a neurologist for further evaluation but this referral can be delayed if symptoms are minor or are developing and changing slowly. Clinicians Involved in the Diagnostic ProcessĪn appointment with a primary care physician (PCP) is often the first step to understanding symptoms and changes. Rarely, a person may realize that he or she is having difficulty catching his or her breath while performing various tasks. Occasionally, a coworker or boss may notice that the person’s ability to perform at their normal capacity at work has changed. Over time, however, an individual or a family member may realize that frequent tripping or falling, an inability to hold a full cup of coffee or slowed speech might be something more than a sign of aging.

Billing, Insurance & Financial AssistanceĪlthough individuals experience symptoms differently, a common first response to feelings of muscular weakness, slurred speech or a change in ability to perform tasks such as buttoning clothes or tying shoes is to attribute these changes to “getting older.”.

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