What are the physical symptoms of Williams syndrome?
Newborns with Williams syndrome have characteristic “elfin-like” facial features including an unusually small head (microcephaly), full cheeks, an abnormally broad forehead, puffiness around the eyes and lips, a depressed nasal bridge, broad nose, and/or an unusually wide and prominent open mouth.
Are people with Williams syndrome slow?
Weaknesses in fine motor and spatial relations. Movement/mobility difficulties: Most children with Williams syndrome have low muscle tone and trouble with coordination and strength. Young children may be slow in developing motor skills.
What do people with Williams syndrome struggle with?
It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning challenges. These often occur side by side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities, and an affinity for music.
How does Williams syndrome affect behavior?
Williams syndrome is associated with poor social inhibition that may in part in be related to deficits in inhibition in general (Porter et al., 2007). For example, individuals with WS may approach others such as strangers due to a reduced ability to inhibit the urge to socially interact with others.
What are people with Williams syndrome good at?
People with Williams syndrome typically have difficulty with visual-spatial tasks such as drawing and assembling puzzles, but they tend to do well on tasks that involve spoken language, music, and learning by repetition (rote memorization).
Is Williams syndrome a form of autism?
Williams Syndrome (WS) is not an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although there is some overlap between the two conditions. WS and ASD have opposite characteristics in the social domain, but share some common behavioral and cognitive deficiencies.
Why are people with Williams syndrome so friendly?
Scientists realized it was related to the levels of oxytocin. They knew that oxytocin is involved in social/intimacy behaviors, like mother-child bonding or romantic encounters. And they found that people with Williams syndrome have a lot more oxytocin than everybody else, and that it fluctuates wildly in the brain.
Why are people with Williams syndrome so happy?
And they found that people with Williams syndrome have a lot more oxytocin than everybody else, and that it fluctuates wildly in the brain. As a result, they feel this biological impulse to love all the time.
Are people with Williams syndrome always happy?
Abstract. Williams syndrome is a genetic disorder resulting in a variety of medical and developmental features, one of which is a frequent outward presentation of substantial happiness.
What is unusual about many people with Williams syndrome?
People with Williams syndrome (WS) often an unusual “elfin” appearance, with a low nasal bridge. Unique personality traits include a high level of sociability and very good communication skills. The high level of verbal skills may mask other developmental problems and sometimes contribute towards a late diagnosis.
What is it like living with Williams syndrome?
Children with this syndrome could have problems with their heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other organs. Their nose, mouth, and other facial features may be unique. They sometimes have trouble learning. Children with Williams syndrome will need to see many doctors throughout their lives.
Are people with William syndrome smart?
Most individuals with Williams syndrome have a degree of intellectual disability, ranging from mild to severe. Research studies have suggested that IQ scores for children with Williams syndrome range from 40 to 112, with a mean IQ score of 68 which equates to a mild intellectual disability (average IQ is 100).
Are people with Williams syndrome happy?
People with Williams syndrome are described as having exceptionally friendly personalities, extremely sensitive and empathic, and therefore are also called “love children.” Williams syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the deletion of one of the two copies of about 26 genes found on chromosome 7 in humans [1].