What are the signs of Angelman Syndrome?
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare neuro-genetic disorder that affects an individual's development, movement, and behavior. It is estimated to affect 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 live births, and is typically characterized by a combination of physical, developmental, and cognitive delays. Common signs of AS include developmental delays, impaired balance and coordination, difficulty with speech and language development, seizures, sleep disturbances, and an abnormal gait.
Physically, individuals with AS may have a small head size, wide mouth, and protruding tongue. They may also have a flat back of the head, a wide-based gait, and jerky, clumsy movements. In addition, facial features such as a wide mouth, upturned nose, and widely spaced eyes may be present.
Cognitively, individuals with AS may have a delay in cognitive development, ranging from mild to severe. They may also have difficulty with communication, including learning to speak and formulating sentences. In addition, individuals with AS may experience problems with understanding abstract concepts, learning new skills, and interacting with others.
Behaviorally, individuals with AS may have difficulty controlling their impulses, resulting in behaviors such as hyperactivity, restlessness, and inappropriate laughter. They may also exhibit a preference for routine, repetitive activities, and a decreased need for sleep.
Overall, Angelman Syndrome is a rare disorder that is characterized by a combination of physical, developmental, and cognitive delays. Common signs of AS include developmental delays, impaired balance and coordination, difficulty with speech and language development, seizures, sleep disturbances, an abnormal gait, a small head size, wide mouth, and protruding tongue, facial features such as a wide mouth, upturned nose, and widely spaced eyes, a delay in cognitive development, difficulty with communication, problems with understanding abstract concepts, learning new skills, and interacting with others, and difficulty controlling impulses, resulting in behaviors such as hyperactivity, restlessness, and inappropriate laughter.