About ALS
The onset of ALS may be so subtle that initial symptoms are frequently overlooked. Early symptoms include twitching, cramping or stiffness of muscles, muscle weakness in the arms and legs, slurred and nasal speech or difficulty chewing or swallowing.
In some cases, early symptoms affect one leg, causing awkwardness when walking or running that results in tripping or stumbling. When ALS affects the hands or arms, simple tasks such as buttoning a shirt, writing or unlocking a door may prove difficult.
Over time, muscle weakness and loss of voluntary muscle control spread, increasing problems with moving, swallowing and speaking.
A diagnosis of ALS requires signs and symptoms of upper motor neuron damage, such as tight and stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes, and lower motor neuron damage, such as muscle weakness, degeneration, cramping and twitching.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
