Symptoms vary from person to person and range from no symptoms to mild to severe symptoms.

In some people, symptoms are present at birth. In others, symptoms appear in late childhood or adulthood. Symptoms may also get better or worse at different points in time.

Common symptoms include:

• Headache pain – This is the most common symptom. Headache can start or worsen after coughing, sneezing or straining and often occur at the back of head. Pain may spread to the neck and shoulder. Pain is described as throbbing, stabbing or sharp.
• Balance and movement problems – Muscle weakness, coordination issues and numbness in the limbs can lead to problems with fine motor skills. Chiari malformation can also cause dizziness, vertigo and balance problems.
• Problems with hearing and vision – Some people hear a buzzing or ringing sound (tinnitus) and may have trouble hearing. Double vision (diplopia), blurred vision, abnormal eye movements (nystagmus) and sensitivity to light (photophobia) can also occur.
• Trouble with eating, drinking and speaking – Swallowing problems (dysphagia) can occur. Babies with Chiari malformation may vomit, gag or drool a lot. They may have trouble eating, and they may not be able to gain enough weight to develop properly.
• Scoliosis – The spine can become curved, otherwise known as a condition called scoliosis
• Difficulty sleeping – Insomnia can occur, sometimes due to pain from headaches.
• Bladder and bowel issues – Loss of control over the bladder and bowel can result from Chiari malformation.
• Other symptoms – Other symptoms include chronic fatigue, palpitations, fainting episodes and tingling or burning sensations in fingers, toes or lips.

Patients with Chiari malformation may also present with a concurrent spinal or brain abnormality, such as:

• Hydrocephalus – This life-threatening condition occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain. Hydrocephalus happens when the CSF can’t drain. As CSF builds up, it causes pressure within the head and can result in mental disabilities and/or a misshaped skull. It can be fatal if not treated. A flexible tube (a shunt) may be placed to drain the CSF. This complication is most often seen in Chiari malformation type II.
• Syringomyelia and Hydromyelia – When CSF is not flowing properly at the junction between the brain and the spine, some CSF can accumulate in the spine. This fluid build up can cause damage to the spinal cord and causes a variety of health issues. These problems can include movement and balance problems, pain, muscle weakness, muscle spasms and contractions, numbness/decreased sensation to hot and cold, and loss of bladder and bowel control.
• Tethered cord syndrome – People with chiari malformations may have associated spinal conditions such as spina bifida. In some forms, there may be an abnormal attachment of the spinal cord to the spine that causes tension on the nerves with growth and movement. Additionally, children born with myelomeningocele (a severe form of spina bifida) are at increased risk for developing tethered cord syndrome as they grow. This occurs when the spinal cord becomes attached to the spine due to scarring from the original closure surgery. With tethered cord syndrome, there can be slow and progressive nerve damage that affect the muscles of the lower body and legs, and bowel and bladder function.