Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

At the Ochsner Health ALS Center, our approach unites specialists from different fields who work together to manage your health. This collaborative model ensures all aspects of your care are addressed in one convenient location. Before your first appointment, your ALS coordinator or advanced practice nurse will connect with you to discuss your symptoms and start planning your care.

Our dedicated team includes:

• A neurologist
• Advanced practice providers
• Licensed clinical social worker
• Pulmonologist
• Speech-language pathologist
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Dietitian
• Respiratory therapist

Diagnosing ALS

Many new patients come to us after an initial evaluation with another neurologist. Our own neurologists have extensive training in neuromuscular diseases and conduct a thorough evaluation for every patient, whether for an initial diagnosis or a second opinion.

Diagnosing ALS involves a complete physical and neurological exam, along with specific tests to rule out other conditions.

Available Diagnostic Testing

• Blood and urine tests: Help eliminate other potential causes for your symptoms.
• Electromyogram (EMG): Evaluates the electrical activity in your muscles.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Creates detailed images of your brain and spinal cord.
• Muscle biopsy: Determines if a muscle disease other than ALS is present.
• Nerve conduction study: Measures how well your nerves send signals to muscles.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): Analyzes spinal fluid to check for infections or other issues.

While there is no cure for ALS, our mission is to help you live a productive and independent life for as long as possible. We provide established treatments and give our patients access to the future of care through clinical trials.

Available Therapies and Support

• Pulmonary therapy
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Nutritional support
• Emotional support

Medications

Our team prescribes medications to manage symptoms and improve daily life. These can address constipation, depression, fatigue, muscle cramps, and other challenges.

Currently, Rilutek is an FDA-approved medication that helps slow the progression of ALS. Radicava (edaravone) is another treatment option that has been shown to slow the decline in physical function for some patients. Our experts will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your specific needs.

ALS is a motor neuron disease that affects a person’s ability to speak. The Ochsner Medical Student Association ALS Voice Banking Project is led by students from University of Queensland School of Medicine - Ochsner Clinical School. This student-led initiative is dedicated to helping patients record and preserve their voices for the future.

This volunteer program, established in 2016, uses ModelTalker software to record the voices of people with ALS. Medical students guide patients through the process of reading 1,600 phrases in a specialized audiology booth. The recordings are then synthesized into a unique digital voice that can be used on a computer or other device, allowing you to continue communicating in your own voice.

Get Involved with Voice Banking

Patients: Are you interested in recording your voice? Our students are ready to schedule an appointment with you or a loved one.

• Contact: ALSVoiceBanking@ochsner.org
• Appointments: Sessions are available on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and on Saturday mornings at our Ochsner Covington location. We may be able to accommodate other locations on a case-by-case basis. Recording sessions can last for up to two hours each, and patients typically require anywhere from four to eight recording sessions to complete the program.

Donate: Your donation helps cover the costs of voice recording and synthesis for patients. To donate to the ALS innovation fund, select "Support the Neuroscience Center of Excellence: ALS Innovation" and email us at ALSVoiceBanking@ochsner.org so we can ensure the funds are allocated correctly.

ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting brain and spinal cord nerve cells. Over time, it leads to the loss of muscle control, impacting a person's ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. Each year, nearly 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS.

ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The term comes from Greek words meaning "no muscle nourishment." This refers to the failure of nerve cells, leading to muscle weakening. Because of its prominence in history, ALS is also called Lou Gehrig's Disease, named after the famous baseball player who was diagnosed in 1939.

While there is no cure for ALS, treatments focus on slowing the disease's progression, managing symptoms, and improving quality of life. At Ochsner's ALS Center, patients can access a quality care team and physical, occupational, speech, and pulmonary therapies. Medications like Rilutek and Radicava are used to slow progression or manage symptoms. The center also offers access to clinical trials for future treatment options.

At Ochsner, our dedicated ALS team includes a neurologist, advanced practice providers, a licensed clinical social worker, a pulmonologist, a speech-language pathologist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a dietitian, and a respiratory therapist.

The Ochsner Medical Student Association ALS Voice Banking Project is led by students from University of Queensland School of Medicine - Ochsner Clinical School. This student-led initiative is dedicated to helping patients record and preserve their voices for the future. Are you interested in recording your voice? Our students are ready to schedule an appointment with you or a loved one.

Appointment sessions are available on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and on Saturday mornings at our Ochsner Covington location. We may be able to accommodate other locations on a case-by-case basis. Recording sessions can last for up to two hours each, and patients typically require anywhere from four to eight recording sessions to complete the program.

To schedule an appointment, please contact us at ALSVoiceBanking@ochsner.org.