Symptoms

Symptoms of functional neurologic disorders may vary, depending on the type of functional neurologic disorder, and they're significant enough to cause impairment and warrant medical evaluation. Symptoms can affect body movement and function and the senses.

Signs and symptoms that affect body movement and function may include:

• Weakness or paralysis
• Abnormal movement, such as tremors or difficulty walking
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty swallowing or feeling "a lump in the throat"
• Seizures or episodes of shaking and apparent loss of consciousness (nonepileptic seizures)
• Episodes of unresponsiveness

Signs and symptoms that affect the senses may include:

• Numbness or loss of the touch sensation
• Speech problems, such as inability to speak or slurred speech
• Vision problems, such as double vision or blindness
• Hearing problems or deafness

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention for signs and symptoms listed above. If the underlying cause is a neurological disease or another medical condition, quick diagnosis and treatment may be important. If the diagnosis is a functional neurologic disorder, treatment may improve the symptoms and help prevent future problems.