Signs & Symptoms of Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders are not limited to one type and one particular symptom. They are actually a group of conditions that cause paralysis to parts of the body due to an impairment or injury of the central nervous system. There are a variety of causes for neurological disorders. Some are caused from a physical injury, some from a physical imbalance in the body, while some have no known cause at all. Just as each neurological disorder differs, so too do their symptoms and treatments.

Parkinson's Disease

• This disease has two different types of symptoms--primary and secondary. Not everyone who is diagnosed with this disorder will experience every symptom, nor will the disorder progress at the same rate in each person. Some of the primary symptoms include slow voluntary movements such as sitting, standing and walking, stiffening of the muscles, poor balance and muscle tremors that occur in places such as their hands, feet and mouth. Secondary symptoms include a slow response when asked a question, answering in a soft, whisper-like voice, difficulty swallowing, drooling, coughing and choking.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• This neurological disorder is known by its prolonged, debilitating periods of fatigue. Other symptoms include muscle and joint pain, difficulty with memory and concentration and recurring headaches and sore throats. The symptoms may last for as little as six months or can remain for many years.

Epilepsy

• This is a disorder that affects the normal activity of the brain waves and the processes of the body the brain controls. Though there are a variety of seizure disorders people may suffer from, the symptoms for each person typically do not vary much. However, the symptoms will vary depending on the type of seizure disorder each person has. Some of the more common symptoms include involuntary jerking or twitching of the body, staring blankly for a period of time, loss of awareness but not consciousness, stiffening of the body, suddenly collapsing, loss of bowel and/or bladder control and loss of consciousness.

Alzheimer's Disease

• This disease is a progressive, permanent disease that causes the brain cells to deteriorate. The symptoms will vary depending on the stage of the disease. In the early stages, the sufferer may experience a slight loss of memory, lose his ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as lose his ability to plan simple events or execute familiar tasks. As the disease progresses into the later and end stages, he may experience complete loss of memory and mental function, along with loss of movement coordination and recognition of familiar people and places.

Cerebral Palsy

• This is not one disorder, but a group of disorders that is caused by a brain injury occurring during fetal development, during birth or shortly after birth. It is known to cause a disruption in fine motor skills. The most common symptoms include muscle spasticity, seizures and paralysis.