Symptoms

Ataxia can develop over time or come on suddenly. A sign of a number of neurological disorders, ataxia can cause:

• Poor coordination
• Unsteady walk and a tendency to stumble
• Difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as eating, writing or buttoning a shirt
• Change in speech
• Involuntary back-and-forth eye movements (nystagmus)
• Difficulty swallowing

When to see a doctor

If you aren't aware of having a condition that causes ataxia, such as multiple sclerosis, see your doctor as soon as possible if you:

• Lose balance
• Lose muscle coordination in a hand, arm or leg
• Have difficulty walking
• Slur your speech
• Have difficulty swallowing