Minimizing the Diagnostic Delay in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Role of Nonneurologist Practitioners

Table 2

Occurrence of bulbar and spinal signs in our patients.

		At first feeling by the patient (%)	At first examination by GP (%)	At first examination by the neurologist (%)	At diagnosis (%)	General prevalence (%)
Bulbar signs	Speech disability	32.22	33.33	47.78	61.11	92.22
	Breathing disability	6.67	10	22.22	52.22	92.22
	Swallowing disability	13.33	13.33	37.78	51.11	86.67
	Excessive saliva	5.56	6.67	11.11	20	42.22
	Tongue fasciculations	1.11	3.33	16.67	41.11	61.11
	Tongue atrophy	0	0	5.56	16.67	40
	PCL	1.11	1.11	2.22	7.78	18.89
Spinal signs	Hoffmann sign	0	0	8.89	42.22	56.67
	LL motor weakness	42.22	47.78	57.78	70	91.11
	UL motor weakness	31.11	35.56	52.22	72.22	93.33
	LL fasciculations	7.78	11.11	30	67.78	74.44
	UL fasciculations	6.67	8.89	36.67	65.56	71.11
	Body fasciculations	3.33	4.44	11.11	22.22	27.78
	LL muscle atrophy	0	1.11	10	27.78	37.78
	UL muscle atrophy	6.67	8.89	30	57.78	67.78
	LL cramps/pain/spasticity	21.11	24.44	33.33	47.78	66.67
	UL cramps/pain/spasticity	12.22	18.89	27.78	42.22	66.67
	Body cramps/pain/spasticity	1.11	1.11	2.22	5.56	14.44

LL: lower limbs; PCL: pathological crying and laughing; UL: upper limbs.