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Post by momofautistic on May 17, 2004 12:12:25 GMT -5
This spectrum disorder is unique , as it affects girls almost exclussively. Until recently, it was thought that a male fetus could not survive the disorder, and therefore all victims were female. Research now shows that though Rett syndrome is rare in boys, it should not be excluded as a diagnosis just because of gender. Rett syndrome is a genetically caused disorder. A gene mutation causes Rett syndrome, and the degree of the mutation determines the severity of the condition. If a boy does have Rett syndrome, he will display the symptoms differently than a classic Rett syndrome girl, and therefore DNA testing is required to determine this disorder in boys. Rett syndrome is a rare condition, affecting only 1 in 100,000 children. The diagnosis of Rett syndrome is made by observation of symptoms similar to autism. However, the differences between the two conditions become more apparent as the child ages, due to the dramatic regression exhibited in Rett syndrome. Indicators of Rett syndrome include: - Frequent hand-wringing motion,which is unique to this disorder
- Major milestones as an infant achieved
- Loss of skills and abilities beginning at age two with increase in hand-wringing
- Loss of the ability to walk
- Profound retardation
- Social skills decreasing with age
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