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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff
There is no specific test for essential tremor. Determining the diagnosis is often a matter of ruling out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. To do this, your doctor may suggest the following:
Neurological exam
This exam surveys your nervous system functioning, including checking your:
- Tendon reflexes
- Muscle strength and tone
- Ability to feel certain sensations
- Posture and coordination
- Gait
Laboratory tests
Your blood and urine may be tested for problems such as:
- Thyroid disease
- Drug side effects
Performance tests
To evaluate the tremor itself, you may be asked to:
- Drink from a glass
- Hold your arms outstretched
- Write
- Draw a spiral
- Essential tremor. Genetics Home Reference. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/essential-tremor/show/print. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Tarsy D. Overview of tremor. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Eidelberg D, et al. Tremor. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec16/ch221/ch221i.html?qt=essential%20tremor&alt=sh. Accessed Aug. 8, 2010.
- Tarsy D. Pharmacologic treatment of essential tremor. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Tarsy D. Surgical treatment of essential tremor. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Tremor fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tremor/detail_tremor.htm?css=print. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Louis ED. Essential tremors: A family of neurodegenerative disorders? Archives of Neurology. 2009;66:1202.
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