Mal de Debarquement

Synonyms

• MdDS

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare and little understood disorder of the body’s balance system (vestibular system) and refers to the rocking sensation and/or sense of imbalance that persists for an excessive length of time after an ocean cruise, plane flight or other motion experience. Most people after exposure to an ocean trip or long airplane ride will experience "motion" after the event is over and for a short period of time. But for persons with MdDS, these sensations may last for six months or a year or even many years. Symptoms may diminish in time or periodically disappear and reappear after days, months, or years, sometimes after another motion experience or sometimes spontaneously. This syndrome is probably more common than the literature might lead us to believe, as the level of awareness in the general population as well as among health personnel is very low.

The disproportionate length of time over which the discomfort persists is normally unaccompanied by nausea, nor is it responsive to motion-sickness drugs.

For reasons that are not understood, women are overwhelmingly more likely to come down with MdDS than are men. However, most studies so far have disavowed hormones as a cause.

Resources

Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA)
P.O. Box 13305
Portland, OR 97213
USA
Tel: 5032297705
Fax: 5032298064
Tel: 8008378428
Email: veda@vestibular.org
Internet: http://www.vestibular.org

EAR (Education and Auditory Research) Foundation
P.O. Box 330867
Nashville, TN 37203
Tel: (615)627-2724
Tel: (800)545-4327
TDD: (615)284-7849
Email: suzanne@earfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.earfoundation.org

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
8A07
Bethesda, MD 20892-2540
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

MdDS Balance Disorder Foundation, A National Heritage Foundation
255 Copper Beech Drive
Blue Bell, PA 19422
USA
Tel: 2155429167
Email: mddsfoundation@yahoo.com
Internet: http://www.nhffoundations.net/mdds

American Academy of Audiology
11730 Plaza America
#300
Reston, VA 20190
Tel: (703)790-8466
Fax: (703)790-8631
Tel: (800)222-2336
Email: info@audiology.org
Internet: http://www.audiology.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

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This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:
Copyright 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.