Most commonly, MdDS presents after an ocean cruise, air, or automobile travel. Symptoms usually begin shortly after the cessation of the motion. Imagine never feeling at rest..
Persistent sensation of movement such as:
Symptoms are often accompanied by:
See the Diagnostic Criteria consensus document of the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society (PDF).
While MdDS is a disorder of perceived movement, researchers will want to study other aspects, or domains, of the MdDS experience. Symptoms that are not of movement may include:
Yes! As a given course of MdDS progresses toward remission, symptoms typically lessen in severity and intervals of symptom-free periods become more frequent and prolonged. Patients with zero (0) perception of movement, sustained for at least six (6) months, are considered in remission.
New in 2025! Measure and Monitor your MdDS – the perception of movement in the absence of motion – with our new interactive scale. Help others understand how the intensity of your symptoms can vary, and how they can affect your daily life. A printable scale makes sharing findings with your physician simple! Download and Print the New Scale
Barely noticeable
Noticeable
Distracting sometimes
Distracting usually
Interrupting
Hard to ignore
Can't ignore
Awful
Hard to bear
Unbearable
The MdDS Foundation is developing a patient registry to collect data on symptom modifiers—factors that increase or decrease the intensity of MdDS symptoms. We’ll share our findings here once enough data has been collected and analyzed. Visit the MdDS Registry page to learn more.
In some patients, repeated bouts of MdDS may occur and are usually associated with a precipitating event, e.g., travel or high stress. Subsequent episodes are generally more prolonged but some patients experience a quick return to baseline. Find answers to other FAQs on the About the Disorder & FAQs page.
