Pardon my ignorance, but it seems that ALS is only diagnosed after eliminating everything else. What test or tests are truly effective at diagnosing ALS?
No pardon needed. The way it was explained to my husband and I is that there are only tests to evaluate symptoms at this current time. Tests that rule out and tests that rule in, an EMG being one of them.
Unfortunately, after all these years there is still no one test that can determine whether one has ALS. Here is a link with more info:
If they could find that test they would know how to cure it because they would know what causes it.....
There are some symptoms, like weakness and atrophy, but largely it is a process of elimination. Once they rule out all other illnesses the only thing left is ALS.
ALS Testing 
