How is MdDS Diagnosed?

There is no single test to definitively prove you have MdDS. Instead, a diagnosis is made based on your medical history and by running tests to exclude (rule out) other potential causes for your symptoms.

Key diagnostic indicators include a persistent perception of rocking, bobbing, swaying and/or gravitational pull that lasts for at least 30 days, and the sensation temporarily improves when you are in passive motion (such as driving or riding in a car).

How to Get a Diagnosis

While your Primary Care Provider (PCP) can diagnose MdDS, it is most commonly diagnosed by specialists such as otolaryngologists (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors) or neurologists. Other health professionals, including physical therapists and audiologists, may recognize the features of MdDS.

Many healthcare providers are familiar with MdDS. To help your provider make an accurate diagnosis, use these strategies during your visit:

• Describe the perception of movement accurately: Avoid using broad terms like “dizzy” or “vertigo.” Instead, describe the specific feeling, such as feeling like you are on a boat, walking on a trampoline, or experiencing an elevator drop.
• Highlight your medical history: Clearly mention if your symptoms began after a cruise, flight, train ride, or other motion event, and note if the sensations temporarily disappear when you are back in a moving vehicle.*
• Bring educational resources: Consider printing and bringing our informative brochure or the MdDS diagnostic criteria to your appointment to share with your doctor. These resources include official ICD billing codes, which can validate your experience and help guide your provider through the diagnosis process.

*Note: A subset of individuals develop non-motion triggered or “spontaneous” MdDS, exhibiting identical symptoms without an associated motion event. See also “Can I have MdDS without a motion event?”