Neurological Symptoms and Diagnosis

Neurological symptoms can point to a variety of conditions affecting the brain or nerves. Learn about diagnostic tests you can expect so you can work with your doctor to reach a specific diagnosis.
Man pinching bridge of his nose
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak: When Are Symptoms Serious?
Teenager at school in hallway
Mutism: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Doctor looking at chart with patient
What Is the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)?
A person's arm is checked by a healthcare provider
What Causes Arm Numbness?
Teenager outdoors with hands at bridge of nose
Brain Zaps: Medication and Non-Medication Causes
Ventilator mask and oxygen cylinder
Brain Injury From Anoxia
A person lying on the ground after head trauma in basketball (in a version of fencing response) with a person close by calling for medical help
What Is the Fencing Response?
Hands picking up shards of a broken plate from the floor
What Is Cataplexy?
Provider performing electromyography (EMG) to test the electrical activity of the muscles
What Is Electromyography (EMG)?
Two people hugging each other for support
What Is Anterograde Amnesia?
A speech therapist working with a person who has apraxia of speech
What Is Apraxia of Speech?
Healthcare providers looking at MRI images on laptop
What Is Focal Dystonia?
Close-up of person rubbing their hands
Hand Tremors
man looking away against wall
What Is Aphonia?
Person holding their wrist
Numbness on One Side of the Body
Cleaning up spilled glass of orange juice with a paper towel
What Is Dystonia?
Man with healthcare provider looking at tablet displaying brain scan images
How Dysmetria Affects Your Body
Someone is cleaning up spilled orange juice from trembling.
Trembling
A young man experiencing a motor tic around his mouth.
What Is a Tic?
A young woman touching her eyelid
Myoclonus
Person who has fainted at home
Fainting
Someone walking, perhaps shuffling feet.
Shuffling Gait
Person sitting in park, holding head, feeling lightheaded
Lightheadedness
Senior woman using a walker.
Unsteady Gait
Someone balancing on a log.
Loss of Balance
Woman looking in mirror, feeling her numb face
Why Is My Face Numb?
Person looking out of window with blank expression
Flat Affect
Person sniffs orange to see if they have lost their sense of smell
Anosmia
Man on sofa feeling numb hand
Hand Numbness
Woman getting a neurological examination
Facial Nerve Paralysis
Close-up of a person's face and eyes
Unequal Pupils
Healthcare provider holding hand of a person with a tremor
Tremors
Nerve conduction velocity test
Testing Nerve Conduction Velocity
Man checking for lopsided face in mirror
Lopsided Face: Causes and Treatment
Man recovering from stroke, with facial paralysis
Facial Paralysis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Doctor performing eye nerve test electronystagmography
What Is Electronystagmography?
Healthcare provider examines person who has signs of facial palsy
What Is Facial Nerve Palsy?
Healthcare provider checking person for lopsided smile
Lopsided Smile: Everything You Need to Know
Healthcare provider explains cranial nerve 7 impairment to woman
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve 7): Everything to Know
Testing corneal reflex with cotton swab
What Is the Corneal Reflex?
Woman receiving a beauty treatment in medical practice
Why Is My Lip Twitching?
Person in wheelchair affected by paralysis
Paralysis
Granddaughter comforting grandmother who is experiencing effects of executive dysfunction
What Is Executive Dysfunction?
Woman talks with little boy
Echolalia
Bottles of clonazepam and diazepam medication on a pharmacy shelf
Which Medications Cause Sundowning Symptoms?
Emergency responders treat an unconscious person
Decorticate vs. Decerebrate Posturing: Differences Explained
An illustration of decerebrate and decorticate posturing
What Is Decerebrate Posturing?
Hospitalized patient looks confused, may have delirium
Delirium
What are the signs of caffeine overdose?
What Are the Signs of Caffeine Overdose?
Young woman lying down with her arm across her forehead, eyes closed, with a blanket covering her body.
Dizziness and Sweating: What You Should Know
Teenager reading aloud from a paper in a classroom
Overcoming Speech Impediment: Symptoms to Treatment
Haldol (haloperidol) can cause tardive dyskinesia
What Medications Cause Tardive Dyskinesia?
Akathisia and tardive dyskinesia can cause distress
Akathisia vs. Tardive Dyskinesia: What Are the Differences?
Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) at Borough Market in Southwark, London
Lion's Mane for ADHD
A person holding their head and onto another person on a basketball court
Seizures: Types in Children and Adults
Child with sore throat
How Serious Is PANDAS Syndrome?
A hand reaching for medication for tardive dyskinesia
Is Tardive Dyskinesia Reversible?
Young boy is in bed with a headache while his mom comforts him.
Ophthalmoplegic Migraine/RPON
Person bending over holding their right knee and upper calf with both hands.
Numbness in Legs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Doctor examining patient in office - stock photo
Tingling, Numbness, or Cold Feeling in the Head