Health Sciences Center Library, Kuwait University

Examples of common syndromess

Commonest chromosomal abnormality seen in people with learning disability and the commonest identifiable cause of learning disability.
Usually moderate to severe learning disability.
Typical facial appearance: small ears and eyes, small head, protruding tongue. Short stature.
Common physical health problems: Many, including congenital heart defects, hypothyroidism, visual disorders (especially cataract and keratoconus), hearing impairment (middle ear infections, conductive hearing loss, early onset of presbyacusis), obesity, epilepsy, degenerative spine disorders, atlanto-axial joint subluxation, peridontal and dermatological problems, diabetes mellitus, coeliac disease, hypotension, respiratory and other infections (to poor immunological defence mechanisms), leukaemia and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Psychiatric problems: high rates of early onset dementia of Alzheimer's type and depression.

Commonest inherited cause of learning disability.
Usually borderline to moderate learning disability.
Typical facial appearance: Large head circumference, long and prominent ears.
Physical associations: Examples include mitral valve prolapse, lax joints, scoliosis, flat feet, testicular enlargement.
Behavioural associations: poor concentration, hyperkinetic behaviour, avoidance of eye contact.

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.