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Rett Syndrome
Rett Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder which almost exclusively affects girls. Typically, development is normal until somewhere between 6 and 18 months, when motor skills tend to regress and milestones slow down or reverse. Many behaviors mimic those of autism, thus Rett's is often mistaken for autism and misdiagnosed. Similar symptoms include panic attacks, crying jags, lack of eye contact, little empathy or interest in social interactions, and loss of speech.
Some physical traits of Rett's may include microcephaly (small head), delayed or no ability to walk, poor muscle tone, difficulty swallowing, spasticity, teeth grinding, and more. Some children suffer seizures and some have constipation problems.
There is no cure for Rett's currently, but treatment includes medication to control physical problems like seizures and gastrointestinal issues, behavioral interventions, social modeling, and communicative strategies to assist with social skills. There is hope in the medical community that gene therapy may soon help children diagnosed with Rett's.