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Angel man syndrome |
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by hermy  (August 2007) (rank 46th) |
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Angel man syndrome (AS) is a genetic disorder that causes developmental delays and neurological problems.
Children with AS will appear normal at birth, but will have feeding problems in the first few months and will exhibit noticeable developmental delays by the age of 6-12 months. They will often suffer from seizures these will begin from 2-3 years of age. They will have a very strong speech impairment, with little or no words. They will display hyperactivity, small head size, sleep disorders and movement and balance disorders.
Some of the characteristic physical features of AS are;
n Flattened back of the head
n Deep set eyes
n Wide, ever smiling mouth
n Prominent jaw
n Widely spaced teeth
n Lightly pigmented hair, skin and eyes
There are no cures for AS but you will find that your child will benefit from a range of treatments, these will include;
n Speech therapy
n Behaviour modification
n Communication therapy
n Physical therapy
n Special education
n Social skills training
n Anti-epileptic medication
People with AS will have a normal life span and good health, many of the issues that are suffered as children will lessen as they get older. As adults though they are unable to live independently, but many will perform basic household tasks and can successfully live in adult group homes.
Those with AS will suffer severe developmental delays but with early diagnosis and quality intervention and therapy it is possible to improve their quality of life.
I hope this helps………………
