Home / What Is MdDS? – Symptoms

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..

What are the Symptoms of MdDS?

Persistent sensation of motion such as:

  • Rocking (front to back)
  • Bobbing (up and down)
  • Swaying (side to side)
  • Gravitational pull

Symptoms are often accompanied by:

  • Cognitive impairment
  • Imbalance or staggering gait
  • Sense of unstable ground

NEW! interactive Symptom severity Scale

Symptoms Not Typically Associated with MdDS

  • Rotational or spinning vertigo
  • Double vision
  • Bouncing vision
  • Nausea
  • Nystagmus
  • Sound sensitivity
  • Tinnitus
  • Hearing loss

See the Diagnostic Criteria consensus document of the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society (PDF).

Other Symptoms Commonly Reported

While MdDS is a disorder of perceived motion, researchers will want to study other aspects, or domains, of the MdDS experience. Symptoms that are not motion may include:

  • Sensitivity to light
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Migraine Headaches
  • Intolerance of busy patterns
  • Visual motion intolerance
  • Loss of self-confidence
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss
  • Ear pain and/or fullness
  • Anxiety & depression
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty multitasking

A Balanced Scale

New in 2025! Measure and Monitor your MdDS – the perception of motion in the absence of motion – and the domains Domains are symptoms that are not motion, see “Other Symptoms Commonly Reported” above. of the syndrome. A printable scale is available on the Resources page, so you can easily share your findings. Help your physician understand how the intensity of your symptoms can vary, and how they can affect your daily life.
Download and Print the New Scale

Interactive Symptom Severity Scale

None
Mild
Low
Moderate
High
Severe
Mild
Low
Moderate
High
Severe

None

Very Mild

Barely noticeable

Mild

Noticeable

Very Low

Distracting sometimes

Low

Distracting usually

Intermediate

Interrupting

Moderate

Hard to ignore

High

Can't ignore

Very High

Awful

Severe

Hard to bear

Very Severe

Unbearable

Select the number to highlight your level.

What Increases MdDS Symptoms?

  • Stress
  • Lack of sleep
  • Working at a computer for extended intervals
  • Enclosed spaces such as the shower, stairwells or long hallways especially those with busy carpet patterns
  • Supermarket aisles and other rapidly changing stimuli such as flipping through pages or images & screen scrolling
  • Changes in barometric pressure (weather)
  • Allergy symptoms
  • Fatigue, increasing as the day progresses.

What Alleviates MdDS Symptoms?

  • Travel (e.g., movement/motion in a car or airplane)
  • Establishing a vigorous exercise program

Learn about coping with MdDS

Remission is Possible! Typically, symptoms lessen in severity and intervals of symptom-free periods become more frequent and prolonged. Patients with 0 perception of motion, sustained for at least six (6) months, are considered in remission.

Is MdDS Episodic?

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.

Getting a diagnosis How to cope with MdDS
Symptoms MdDS Foundation 9:16 pm