Dropped head syndrome (DHS) is a rare condition characterized by severe weakness of neck extensors and may associate with weakness of shoulder girdle and proximal arm muscles. This occurs as a result of several neurological, neuromuscular, muscular, and other causes.

Dropped head syndrome causes a recognizable deformity with varying degrees of “chin on chest” posture. There is usually weakness of the neck muscles that results in the head dropping forward, sometimes called ptosis of the head. The fixed flexion or forward bending of the neck is often painful, interferes with feeding and horizontal eye gaze.

Dropped Head Syndrome is characterized by severe weakness of the muscles of the back of the neck. This causes the chin to rest on the chest in standing or sitting. Floppy Head Syndrome and Head Ptosis are other names used to describe the syndrome. Most of the time, Dropped Head Syndrome is caused by a specific generalized neuromuscular diagnosis.