My mom is going to see an ALS specialist with a diagnosed of ALS from her neurologist. He did all of the tests that are listed in a book I have about Motor Neuron Diseases except a tap. My poor mom has been through the wringer and I wonder what they could possibly find in a tap that would tip the scales away from and ALS diagnosis. She seems to have a textbook case of bulbar ALS. She's very afraid of a tap (heard stories that it's very, very painful). So, in your opinion, do you think it's necessary with all the other tests pointing directly at ALS?