National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Moebius syndrome


Other Names:
Mobius syndrome; Congenital facial diplegia; Congenital facial diplegia syndrome; Mobius syndrome; Congenital facial diplegia; Congenital facial diplegia syndrome; Congenital oculofacial paralysis; Moebius sequence; MBS; Absence or underdevelopment of the 6th and 7th cranial nerves See More
Categories:
Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological condition that primarily affects the muscles that control facial expression and eye movement. Signs and symptoms of the condition may include weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles; feeding, swallowing, and choking problems; excessive drooling; crossed eyes; lack of facial expression; eye sensitivity; high or cleft palate; hearing problems; dental abnormalities; bone abnormalities in the hands and feet; and/or speech difficulties. Affected children often experience delayed development of motor skills (such as crawling and walking), although most eventually acquire these skills.[1][2] Moebius syndrome is caused by the absence or underdevelopment of the 6th and 7th cranial nerves, which control eye movement and facial expression. Other cranial nerves may also be affected. There is no cure for Moebius syndrome, but proper care and treatment give many individuals a normal life expectancy.[2]
Last updated: 3/3/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the voice
Voice abnormality
0001608
Facial palsy
Bell's palsy
0010628
Feeding difficulties in infancy 0008872
Mask-like facies
Expressionless face
Lack of facial expression
Mask-like facial appearance
[ more ] 		0000298
Open mouth
Gaped jawed appearance
Gaped mouthed appearance
Slack jawed appearance
[ more ] 		0000194
Ophthalmoplegia
Eye muscle paralysis
0000602
Ptosis
Drooping upper eyelid
0000508
Strabismus
Cross-eyed
Squint
Squint eyes
[ more ] 		0000486
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Aplasia of the pectoralis major muscle 0009751
Brachydactyly
Short fingers or toes
0001156
Corneal opacity 0007957
Dysphagia
Poor swallowing
Swallowing difficulties
Swallowing difficulty
[ more ] 		0002015
Everted lower lip vermilion
Drooping lower lip
Outward turned lower lip
[ more ] 		0000232
Motor delay 0001270
Muscular hypotonia
Low or weak muscle tone
0001252
Talipes equinovarus
Club feet
Club foot
Clubfeet
Clubfoot
[ more ] 		0001762
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the sense of smell
Abnormal sense of smell
Smell defect
[ more ] 		0004408
Abnormality of the ulna 0002997
Absent hand 0004050
Aplasia/Hypoplasia involving the metacarpal bones
Absent/small long bones of hand
Absent/underdeveloped long bones of hand
[ more ] 		0005914
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the radius 0006501
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the thumb
Absent/small thumb
Absent/underdeveloped thumb
[ more ] 		0009601
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the tongue 0010295
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita 0002804
Autism 0000717
Blepharitis
Inflammation of eyelids
0000498
Breast aplasia
Absent breast
0100783
Cleft palate
Cleft roof of mouth
0000175
Clinodactyly of the 5th finger
Permanent curving of the pinkie finger
0004209
Death in infancy
Infantile death
Lethal in infancy
[ more ] 		0001522
Epicanthus
Eye folds
Prominent eye folds
[ more ] 		0000286
Finger syndactyly 0006101
Hearing impairment
Deafness
Hearing defect
[ more ] 		0000365
High palate
Elevated palate
Increased palatal height
[ more ] 		0000218
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism 0000044
Microdontia
Decreased width of tooth
0000691
Micrognathia
Small jaw
Little lower jaw
Small lower jaw
[ more ] 		0000347
Multiple cafe-au-lait spots 0007565
Reduced number of teeth
Decreased tooth count
0009804
Skeletal muscle atrophy
Muscle degeneration
Muscle wasting
[ more ] 		0003202
Visual impairment
Impaired vision
Loss of eyesight
Poor vision
[ more ] 		0000505
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the dentition
Abnormal dentition
Abnormal teeth
Dental abnormality
[ more ] 		0000164
Bifid uvula 0000193
Delayed speech and language development
Deficiency of speech development
Delayed language development
Delayed speech
Delayed speech acquisition
Delayed speech development
Impaired speech and language development
Impaired speech development
Language delay
Language delayed
Language development deficit
Late-onset speech development
Poor language development
Speech and language delay
Speech and language difficulties
Speech delay
[ more ] 		0000750
Hypertelorism
Wide-set eyes
Widely spaced eyes
[ more ] 		0000316
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormality of pelvic girdle bone morphology
Abnormal shape of pelvic girdle bone
0002644
Abnormality of the nail 0001597
Abnormality of the nasopharynx 0001739
Abnormality of the pinna
Abnormally shaped ears
Auricular malformation
Deformed ears
Malformed ears
[ more ] 		0000377
Abnormality of the posterior cranial fossa 0000932
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Camptodactyly
Permanent flexion of the finger or toe
0012385
Clinodactyly
Permanent curving of the finger
0030084
Clumsiness 0002312
Congenital fibrosis of extraocular muscles 0001491
Cranial nerve VI palsy 0006897
Decreased testicular size
Small testes
Small testis
[ more ] 		0008734
Depressed nasal bridge
Depressed bridge of nose
Flat bridge of nose
Flat nasal bridge
Flat, nasal bridge
Flattened nasal bridge
Low nasal bridge
Low nasal root
[ more ] 		0005280
Dysarthria
Difficulty articulating speech
0001260
Dysdiadochokinesis
Difficulty performing quick and alternating movements
0002075
Esotropia
Inward turning cross eyed
0000565
Exotropia
Outward facing eye ball
0000577
Facial diplegia 0001349
Gait disturbance
Abnormal gait
Abnormal walk
Impaired gait
[ more ] 		0001288
Hypoplasia of the brainstem
Small brainstem
Underdeveloped brainstem
[ more ] 		0002365
Infantile muscular hypotonia
Decreased muscle tone in infant
0008947
Intellectual disability, mild
Mental retardation, borderline-mild
Mild and nonprogressive mental retardation
Mild mental retardation
[ more ] 		0001256
Lower limb undergrowth
Underdeveloped lower limb bones
0009816
Micropenis
Short penis
Small penis
[ more ] 		0000054
Microphthalmia
Abnormally small eyeball
0000568
Peripheral neuropathy 0009830
Pes planus
Flat feet
Flat foot
[ more ] 		0001763
Poor coordination 0002370
Radial deviation of finger 0009466
Respiratory distress
Breathing difficulties
Difficulty breathing
[ more ] 		0002098
Short neck
Decreased length of neck
0000470
Short phalanx of finger
Short finger bones
0009803
Split hand
Claw hand
Claw hand deformities
Claw hands
Claw-hand deformities
Split-hand
[ more ] 		0001171
Sporadic
No previous family history
0003745
Syndactyly
Webbed fingers or toes
0001159
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Most cases of Moebius syndrome are not inherited and occur as isolated cases in individuals with no history of the condition in their family (sporadically). A small percentage of cases of Moebius syndrome have been familial (occurring in more than one individual in a family), but there has not been a consistent pattern of inheritance among all affected families.[3][4] In some families the pattern has been suggestive of autosomal dominant inheritance, while in other families it has been suggestive of autosomal recessive or X-linked recessive inheritance.[4]
Last updated: 8/14/2014

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

The resources below provide information about treatment options for this condition. If you have questions about which treatment is right for you, talk to your healthcare professional.

Management Guidelines

  • Project OrphanAnesthesia is a project whose aim is to create peer-reviewed, readily accessible guidelines for patients with rare diseases and for the anesthesiologists caring for them. The project is a collaborative effort of the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Orphanet, the European Society of Pediatric Anesthesia, anesthetists and rare disease experts with the aim to contribute to patient safety.
With continued proper medical care, individuals with Moebius syndrome, who do not have serious life threatening complications in their first year of life, usually have a normal life expectancy.[5][2][6][7][8]

Matthew S. Joffe, MA, who has Moebius syndrome, may have put it best when he said: "And I've learned that even though Moebius syndrome does not go away, I could learn to live with it, get beyond it, and have a full and meaningful life."  His full article can be found on  "For Adults Living with Moebius" webpage of the Moebius Syndrome Foundation website.
Last updated: 4/30/2016

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Moebius syndrome. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Social Networking Websites

  • RareConnect has an online community for patients and families with this condition so they can connect with others and share their experiences living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Moebius syndrome. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.
  • A Positive Exposure program called FRAME has an educational film about Moebius syndrome that was created to change how medical information is presented to healthcare professionals. FRAME stands for Faces Redefining the Art of Medical Education. Positive Exposure is an organization that uses photography, film, and narrative to transform public perceptions of people living with genetic, physical, intellectual, and behavioral differences.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Moebius syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • I have Moebius syndrome I have looked all over the internet and I cant seem to find what I can't do with this condition? In other words, do I have limitations due to Moebius syndrome? See answer

  • What are the chances of my 2nd child getting Moebius syndrome? See answer


  1. Moebius syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. July 2010; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/moebius-syndrome.
  2. NINDS Moebius Syndrome Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health. June 23, 2011; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/mobius/moebius.htm.
  3. Moebius syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. July 2010; http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/moebius-syndrome. Accessed 7/15/2013.
  4. Marla J. F. O'Neill. MOEBIUS SYNDROME; MBS. OMIM. July 26, 2012; http://omim.org/entry/157900. Accessed 7/15/2013.
  5. Mulliken JB and Ganske I. Moebius syndrome. National Organization of Rare Disorders. March 17 2016; http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/moebius-syndrome/.
  6. Treatment options. Moebius Syndrome Foundation. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/mobius/moebius.htm#What_is_the_prognosis; Accessed 4/1/2016.
  7. Palmer, CA. Moebius syndrome. Medscape Reference. October 2014; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1180822-overview#showall.
  8. Matsui K, Kataoka A, Yamamoto A, Tanoue K, Kurosawa, K, Shibasaki, J, Ohyama M, and Aida N. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of Mobius syndrome in a Children’s Hospital. Pediatric Neurology. December 2014; 51(6):781-789. http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.nihlibrary.nih.gov/science/article/pii/S0887899414005177.