Neurological examination
A neurological examination tests how well your nervous system is working. Regular neurological examinations should usually be done by a neurologist. The neurologist will examine any changes of the visual or auditory senses as well as sensory changes and speech dysfunction.
Furthermore he will probably include testing of reflexes at the elbows, wrists, knees, ankles and soles of the feet, in order to find hints for a possible alternative disorder.
By observing stance and gait (i.e. leg movements, posture, arm swing while standing or walking, weakness and spasticity), ataxia or sensory loss may be detected, reflecting nerve injury in the spinal cord or the brain.
In addition, your doctor may look for changes to your ears (hearing), face (sensory loss), throat (numbness) as well as speech.
The optic nerve which leads from the brain to the eye is a common site of injury due to MS. Examinations of the optic nerve include testing of vision, optic evoked potentials and close examination of the eye itself.
Vision is tested by eye charts, and the optic nerve is examined with the aid of an ophthalmoscope. All these checks are easy to perform and painless.
Abnormal findings, such as flickering of the eye (nystagmus) may reflect MS activity or reveal other disturbances originating from the inner ear.
In addition to the neurological examination, further tests such as MRI scans are performed routinely. Whilst this is the only test in which MS lesions can be made visible, it cannot be regarded as conclusive. The scanner may not pick up all lesions, particularly in the early stages of MS, and some other MRI detectable conditions can produce identical changes in the nervous system.
