Ataxia is a health condition characterized by a loss of coordination and muscle control. It affects certain body functions that rely on muscle groups to complete an action, such as walking, speaking, and seeing. The body’s inability to perform these functions affects a person’s daily routine. Ataxia can be caused due to several underlying health conditions, such as a stroke and brain degeneration. Identifying the condition’s signs can help individuals seek timely diagnosis and treatment.
Trouble with balance
One of the first signs of ataxia is a loss of balance. The brain sends and receives signals through a delicate network of nerves to control body movements. Ataxia affects this vital function, causing a person to struggle with abrupt movements and actions that affect balance. Poor coordination also affects the patient’s walking style and overall gait.
Vision problems
Slow eye movements are a noticeable sign of developing ataxia. They result from poor neural communication and faulty muscle movements that affect the eyeballs. Some people also develop nystagmus, a vision condition that causes repetitive, involuntary movements of both eyes. These eye movements can be vertical, horizontal, or even circular and are easy to notice as the condition progress.
Trouble with speech
Ataxia can also affect a person’s speech, with slurring noted as one of the early symptoms. Changes in speech patterns are a common and overlapping symptom of known neurological disorders. Persistent slurred speech primarily indicates a loss of coordination in the vocal cords that vibrate to create sound.
Hand tremors
Tremors can develop in one or both arms as ataxia affects a person’s fine motor skills. Simple actions like picking up and holding objects, buttoning one’s shirt, and eating may become challenging due to shaking and trembling. Tremors develop rapidly and affect one’s daily routine.
Problems with automatic movements
The brain controls specific automatic movements, like breathing and swallowing foods. A group of muscles completes these actions on receiving nerve impulses from the brain or spinal cord. Individuals experience difficulty performing such automatic functions as ataxia develops and progresses.
At any stage, if these early warning signs of ataxia persist or intensify, immediate expert consultation is advisable.
