The hallmark of ALS is progressive weakness. ALS often begins with weakness in one limb before spreading to other parts of the body. In Hopkins' case, he noticed that his bass-playing hand was starting to fail him. Here are symptoms to be aware of: Difficulty with simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or holding a cup
Difficulty with swallowing, talking, chewing or speech
Fasciculations which are spontaneous muscle twitches that occur anywhere in the body
Weakness in the face, arms, legs, or difficulty breathing
"At the onset, ALS symptoms may be easily confused with those of other conditions," explains Dr. Jerath, "a second opinion on an ALS diagnosis is common.”