Symptoms

Early symptoms may vary from one patient to another along with order of occurrence. Here are some of the primary symptoms seen in patients:

• weakness in arms or legs (may be more apparent on one side than another)
  
• weakness in muscles of the mouth
• thick or slurred speech
• loss of coordination
  
• difficulty in breathing, coughing, and swallowing
• aspiration (inhaling of food and liquids)
• twitching or cramping of muscles

The senses of sight, feeling, taste, smell, and hearing are unaffected because the motor neurons affected by this disease do not control these functions. The control of eye movement and bladder function are also often unaffected.