Ataxias: Diagnosis
Ataxia can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of other neuromuscular disorders. In addition to conducting a thorough review of your medical and family history, your physician will perform a complete neurological examination, including an MRI scan of the brain. He or she may also request blood tests to rule out other possible disorders that may present similar symptoms.

Additionally, there are genetic blood tests available to confirm a diagnosis of hereditary ataxia. There are also predictive tests to determine if you have inherited an ataxia gene known to affect other family members.