Symptoms of Chiari malformation (CM) may differ depending on the type and severity of the disorder. For example, many patients with CM type I do not experience any symptoms at all. Other patients with CM type I may experience swallowing difficulties or gagging, abnormal hand coordination, difficulties with fine motor skills, neck pain, and strange sensations in the arms and legs.

Other possible symptoms include:

• Balance problems
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Headaches made worse by coughing or straining
• Hearing loss
• Insomnia
• Muscle weakness
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Vision problems
• Vomiting

Symptoms that may affect infants include:

• Arm weakness
• Breathing difficulties (e.g., stridor)
• Developmental delays
• Difficulty feeding and swallowing
• Excessive drooling
• Gagging or vomiting
• Inability to gain weight
• Crying or other signs that may indicate pain
• Rapid eye movements
• Stiff neck