Which of the following is not typically a symptom of ataxia?

Persistent muscle spasms are not typically a symptom of ataxia. Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, which often leads to difficulty maintaining balance, lack of coordination, and slurred speech. These symptoms stem from issues with the cerebellum or related pathways in the brain that control movement.

While muscle spasms may occur due to various reasons, they are generally associated with conditions affecting muscle tone or nerve function, rather than the coordination and balance issues that define ataxia. Therefore, recognizing that muscle spasms fall outside the typical symptomatology of ataxia is essential for understanding the condition and differentiating it from other neurological disorders.