{"id":5066,"date":"2019-03-19T05:20:29","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T05:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5066"},"modified":"2021-03-29T17:32:25","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T17:32:25","slug":"12-indicative-signs-and-symptoms-of-angelman-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/12-indicative-signs-and-symptoms-of-angelman-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Indicative Signs and Symptoms of Angelman Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Angelman syndrome is a rare and genetic condition that affects less than 200,000 Americans each year. When a child has the syndrome, developmental delays start to show between the ages of six and 12 months. They may begin to have seizures at the age of two or three. There are indicative signs and symptoms of Angelman syndrome that parents need to look out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not every child may have the same signs and symptoms, but it\u2019s good to know ahead of time what to expect. Some signs to look out for is if the child\u2019s personality is more on the happy side. The child will laugh and smile a lot. The condition can\u2019t be cured, but there are treatments out there that can help. When it comes to treatment, doctors focus on the developmental side of things. Once Angelman syndrome is diagnosed and the child is treated, the child is able to live a long and normal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Happy and excited all of the time <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

are the signs to look out for in the child. The child will smile all of the time no matter what the situation around him or her is. For example, if the parents are arguing, the child may laugh out loud. This could make the parents angry at first until a doctor checks out the child. This type of condition can go unnoticed, especially when the child is happy all the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents may say that they have a happy child, but in reality, the child is going through Angelman syndrome<\/a>. Medical tests will be conducted to see what is wrong with the child, such as imaging tests. If Angelman syndrome is diagnosed, then the doctor will more than likely put the child in contact with specialists who can do their own tests to help the child with his or her condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Delayed in development <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is another sign to indicate Angelman syndrome could be lurking. Delayed development will be noticed at the age of six months to a year. The signs to look out for is when the child doesn\u2019t crawl. The child may have to be put in the stroller or carried all of the time. A pediatrician <\/a>can run tests to determine why the child is developing late. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some parents may believe that a child is failing to crawl because he or she may be spoiled and just wants to be carried all of the time. On the other hand, parents might think the child may be having issues with their joints and unable to move them. The pediatrician may suggest taking the child to a physical therapist. A physical therapist performs stretches with the child to help him or her use their joints. If this doesn\u2019t work, other specialists may need to look at the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Short in stature <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is common in Angelman syndrome. Not every child that is short in stature has the condition, but this is a sign to watch out for. The child may be shorter than other children his or her age. Some children grow slower than others, but eventually, get taller as they get older. This isn\u2019t the case for a child with Angelman syndrome. They will always be short. They may even be shorter than the average person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people call this condition dwarfism<\/a>. Pediatricians may place the child on medications in conjunction with a healthy diet to see if it could possibly help. Sometimes the proper diet can help a child grow, but with Angelman syndrome, diet and medication may not do the trick. The child may walk differently when he or she is short. It can cause mental issues as well because a lot of the times children are bullied for looking different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Delay in speech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is another symptom <\/a>that parents need to check out for when it comes to the condition. A child may not talk at all or not that much. When a child does speak, it\u2019s at a minimum. Speech therapists come in handy when a child has speech disorders. Pediatricians, parents, and other specialists may believe that a child is just quiet when in fact the child has Angelman syndrome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important that a child with a speech impairment is properly diagnosed because giving a child a lot of medication may not make the condition any better. In fact, it may make it worse. With Angelman syndrome, the proper medication is given in conjunction with the child getting treatment by the right specialists. Once a child is old enough to go to school, the child will more than likely be placed in a special education class with other children with impairments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Intellectual disability <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is an indicative sign that a child has Angelman syndrome. The child is unable to learn at the level of other children. When this happens, the child ends up being placed in a special education class where the child can learn at his or her own level. Children with intellectual disabilities can stay in school until the age of 21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gives them the opportunity to get a proper education and receive a high school diploma. Most children know their alphabet and numbers by the time they reach kindergarten, but children with Angelman syndrome are still unable to count and memorize the alphabet. They are unable to read and write as well. If no treatment is given as a child, it can be detrimental for them as an adult. As an adult, he or she may be placed in a group home with other adults dealing with development disabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Difficulty moving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

around can be a sign that Angelman syndrome is present. The person may ask other people to help her or him to get up out of a chair for instance. When walking, the person will be off-balance and may have to hold onto something to avoid falling. In some cases, a wheelchair or cane may be needed for assistance if the condition is severe. Occupational and physical therapy may be needed to help the person with their daily routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of the times people with disabilities don\u2019t want anyone\u2019s help. They want to be able to do things on their own. That\u2019s why occupational and physical therapists <\/a>are important when treating Angelman syndrome. This allows the person to find ways to do simple tasks on his or her own without assistance. They may be able to get back mobility in their legs, so they can walk properly again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Seizures <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

are a common symptom for children to have at an early age when they have Angelman syndrome. It has been reported that seven out of 10 children will have a seizure <\/a>with this condition. Children usually have seizures at the age of two or three. Some children have them as early as one year of age. Seizures may be reduced with the right medication in addition to eating the right foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A low carb, high fat diet has been known to help people with seizures. Others state that a low blood sugar diet helps the condition as well. Seizures can\u2019t be prevented in Angelman syndrome, so the person\u2019s caretaker should always be prepared for what to do if one occurs. A seizure can occur at any time of the day or night and place. The caretaker just needs to stay calm in order to help the person having the seizure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Hand flapping <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

when walking in the last indicative symptom that a person can have if Angelman syndrome is present. It is something that the person can\u2019t help. It\u2019s just something that he or she does. Even when the caretaker tells the person to put their hands down, the person will do it again. A neurologist <\/a>and other specialists will give the person a series of tests to determine why the hand flapping is occurring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the hand flapping occurs, the person may express themselves, such as smiling or frowning. That might be the only way the person can show emotion is through the hand flapping. As long as the person isn\u2019t hitting anyone while the hand flapping is going on, caretakers may overlook it. When the hand flapping becomes a problem, specialists may want to find ways to keep the person from doing the movement, such as prescribing additional medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Seizures <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

in the womb is another possible sign that your baby might have Angelman syndrome. This is a relatively uncommon sign, but one that can occasionally provide a very early indication of atypical development. It is normal for pregnant women to be able to feel their child moving around in the womb. Often it will be possible to identify a kind of \u2018routine\u2019 for the child: you\u2019ll be able to tell when they tend to wake up, when they tend to go to sleep, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, at a certain point, you might then notice that your child has a sudden and prolonged bout of moving: as though they are throwing their arms and legs around incessantly for several minutes at a time or even longer. This could potentially be a sign that the child is experiencing a seizure in the womb, which in turn might be a sign of Angelman syndrome. It\u2019s important not to be alarmed if you notice a symptom like this, as it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that the child is definitely having a seizure: they could just as well be exploring their environment. However, it never hurts to have your child checked out by a physician<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Unusual movement <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unusual movement is another potential sign of a child with Angleman syndrome. We have already discussed the presence of hand flapping \u2013 especially while walking \u2013 which might point to the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other potentially unusual motor <\/a>movements, however, include things such a tongue thrusting (pushing the tongue in and out), sucking and swallowing disorders (which might impact on the ability to eat), drooling, protruding tongue and more. There are many potential conditions that can lead to unusual motor movements in young children, and this may also be a sign of a tick, or of a motor condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Attraction to water <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Attraction to water <\/a>is something that is often observed in children with Angelman syndrome. Often this will also extend to a general interest in other shiny objects, or things that catch the light in an unusual way. This tends to have a prevalence of around 14%, meaning that it is relatively rare and you might not notice this in 86% of cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, it can be very useful as a sign of the precise nature of the issue if you have noticed the excessive positive affect and are wondering what might be the cause.
As for where this interesting behavior comes from, it is thought that it might be due to sensory processing differences. In short, the way that the child sees is slightly different due to changes in their development, and this leads to an unusual fascination in certain sights and sounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Short attention span <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A short attention span often goes hand in hand with Angelman syndrome, meaning that it might be difficult to engage them in a task for a long time. This can potentially be attributed to the generally slower development<\/a>, which might then make it harder for them to remain interested in tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there are many other potential causes for a short attention span, with one of the most common being another developmental condition: ADHD. ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and causes children to struggle to hold their attention for long. This may well be due to the lower production of dopamine, which is a neurochemical that helps us to stay focused on a single task. ADHD does not cause any difficulties with movement or cognitive impairment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Microcephaly <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Microcephaly <\/a>is a condition where the brain will not develop at the usual rate, which then causes visible differences to the shape of the skull at birth. In the case of children with Angelman syndrome, this will often result in a very flat top or back of the head, or a shorter-than-normal forehead. The condition is considered to be ahead circumference that is two or more standard deviations behind the mean average for the sex. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might also be noticed that the head appears \u2018flatter\u2019. However, a flat head can also be caused by many other things due to the malleable nature of a child\u2019s skull during their early years. In fact, it\u2019s common for children to have flat backs of their heads where they lie on them in the cot during sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Facial features <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Facial features will often appear different in those with Angelman syndrome. Specifically, it is common for those with the condition to display a wide mouth with widely spaced teeth, to have prominent mandibles, strabismus, telecanthus, and other unique physical traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telecanthus is a term that means \u2018far corners of the eyes\u2019 in Latin and which describes the distance between the eyes. This basically means that the eyes are spaced unusually far apart <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strabismus meanwhile is a cosmetic condition that causes one eye to look in a slightly different direction from the other. That is to say that they appear to have a \u2018squint\u2019 and it might not be obvious where their gaze is fixed. That said, it is considered an \u2018aesthetic\u2019 condition because it does not always affect vision: rather the brain <\/a>will be able to put together the information from each eye in such a way as to paint an accurate picture of what is in front of it.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>