Neurological examination

You may have a neurological examination done at the hospital. A neurological examination is a check of your nervous system. You may have this if you have symptoms which may be caused by a brain tumour, or during your treatment. 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.

Your doctor will explain any other tests you need and when these will happen. You may find it helpful to bring a friend or family member with you. If you have tests as an outpatient, you can usually go home afterwards.