In fact, many people have varying degrees of impairments in balance or motor skills, but when examining for the presence of motor or civil behavior impairments in a hospital, doctors usually ask patients to perform a test called the finger-nose test. What is the main function of the finger-nose test?

Firstly, it is crucial to note that the finger-nose test requires the patient to clearly hear and respond to the doctor’s commands. Therefore, patients with disabilities in the arm or hearing impairment are not suitable for this test. Moreover, before the examination, one must ensure that their nails are clean or trimmed short, otherwise, it is easy to injure the eyes or skin due to long nails during the test.

The most important function of the finger-nose test is to determine whether the patient has a general ataxia or whether the thalamic hemispheric disorder is present. Because thalamic hemispheric disorder can cause errors and impairments in patients when they perform certain postures or execute commands.

The finger-nose test is actually very simple to perform. It requires the patient to sit or be seated, close their eyes, and then, following the dynamic commands of the doctor, use their ring finger or any other finger to accurately point to their nose. This test needs to be done several times, and if the patient can only point to the nose, it indicates that the finger-nose test has been successfully completed. If the patient cannot point only to the nose, it proves that there are some overall impairments, and further screening is needed.

Many patients often have difficulty precisely pointing to their nose, primarily due to the imbalance of thalamic coordination. Owing to the lack of adjustment for cerebellar ataxia, patients may lose visual compensation after closing their eyes, and they cannot identify the locations of their sense organs, nor can they find the location of their own nose. In such cases, further specialized treatment is required.