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Copyright 2004
NORD is grateful to Timothy C. Hain, MD, Professor of Neurology, Orolaryngology, and Physical Therapy/Human Movement Science at Northwestern University, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Mal de Debarquement
Disorder Subdivisions
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.
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Organizations related to Mal de Debarquement
- American Academy of Audiology
11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 300
Reston VA 20190
Phone #: 703-790-8466
800 #: 800-222-2336
e-mail: infoaud@audiology.org
Home page: http://www.audiology.org
- EAR (Education and Auditory Research Foundation
P.O. Box 330867
Nashville TN 37203
Phone #: 615-627-2724
800 #: 800-545-4327
e-mail: suzanne@earfoundation.org
Home page: http://www.earfoundation.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
- MdDS Balance Disorder Foundation
22406 Shannondell Drive
Audubon PA 19403
Phone #: 215-542-9167
800 #: N/A
e-mail: mddsfoundation@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.mddsfoundation.org
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda MD 20824
Phone #: 301-496-5751
800 #: 800-352-9424
e-mail: me20t@nih.gov
Home page: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
- Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA)
P.O. Box 13305
Portland OR 97213
Phone #: 503-229-7705
800 #: 800-837-8428
e-mail: veda@vestibular.org
Home page: http://www.vestibular.org
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