Neurological examination

A neurological examination is a check of your nervous system.

You may have a neurological examination if you have symptoms which may be caused by a brain tumour, or during your treatment. A neurological examination is a check of your nervous system. As part of this examination, your doctor may:

  • ask you simple questions to check your thinking and memory
  • test your hearing and eyesight
  • ask you to walk a few steps or do some simple actions to check your balance and movement
  • check the strength of your arms and legs by asking you to push against something
  • check your reflexes by tapping your arms and legs
  • check if you can feel pinpricks on your skin, or feel the difference between hot and cold
  • check the movement of your face and eyes
  • shine a light at the back of your eye to check for swelling – this is a sign of increased pressure in the skull.
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