Vestibular disorders: mal de debarquement: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Vestibular disorders: mal de debarquement

Sample item

A woman returns from a 2-week sea cruise and continues to feel that she is rocking and swaying for weeks, with symptoms easing when she is in a moving car. Examination is normal. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Mal de debarquement syndrome

Mal de debarquement is a persistent sensation of rocking after prolonged motion exposure such as sea travel. It typically improves during passive motion and worsens when still. Examination and vestibular tests are usually normal.

Option by option

  • A. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

    BPPV gives brief episodes with head position change.

  • B. Vestibular schwannoma

    A schwannoma causes progressive unilateral hearing loss.

  • C. Mal de debarquement syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Persistent rocking after disembarking is characteristic.

  • D. Meniere disease

    Meniere disease has hearing loss and attacks.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Mal de debarquement syndrome. Mal de debarquement is a persistent sensation of rocking after prolonged motion exposure such as sea travel.

Why is "Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo" not the answer?

BPPV gives brief episodes with head position change.

Why is "Vestibular schwannoma" not the answer?

A schwannoma causes progressive unilateral hearing loss.

Why is "Meniere disease" not the answer?

Meniere disease has hearing loss and attacks.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vestibular disorders: mal de debarquement in ENT. It typically improves during passive motion and worsens when still. Examination and vestibular tests are usually normal.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vestibular disorders: mal de debarquement?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.