Diagnosing DCSM has traditionally relied on presence of clinical symptoms, including [[clumsy hands]], paralysis of the lower extremities, [[gait disturbance]]s, urinary/[[bowel incontinence]] and severe neurological dysfunction disturbances.
((Guan L, Chen X, Hai Y, et al. High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging in cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A preliminary follow-up study. NMR Biomed. 2017))
((Sampath P, Bendebba M, Davis JD, et al. Outcome of patients treated for cervical myelopathy. A prospective, multicenter study with independent clinical review. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2000;25(6):670–76.)).

Many people with [[cervical spondylosis]] or CSM are asymptomatic. However, patients with CSM are at higher risk of [[spinal cord injury]] (SCI) following minor injury.