Williams Syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. These often occur side by side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music.
WS affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States and 200 in New Zealand. It is known to occur equally in both males and females and in every culture.
Unlike disorders that can make connecting with your child difficult, children with Williams Syndrome tend to be social, friendly and endearing. Parents often say the joy and perspective a child with WS brings into their lives had been unimaginable.
But there are major struggles as well. Many babies may have life-threatening cardiovascular problems. As they grow, they struggle with things like spatial relations, numbers, and abstract reasoning, which can make daily tasks a challenge. As adults, most people with Williams Syndrome will need supportive housing to live to their fullest potential. Many adults with WS contribute to their communities as volunteers or paid employees; often working at assisted living homes for senior citizens, hospitals and libraries.
Just as important are opportunities for social interaction. As people with Williams Syndrome mature – beyond the structure of school and family activities – they often experience intense isolation which can lead to depression. They are extremely sociable and experience the normal need to connect with others; however people with Williams Syndrome often don’t process nuanced social cues and this makes it difficult to form lasting relationships.
Common features of Williams Syndrome include:
Most young children with Williams Syndrome are described as having similar facial features. These features include a small upturned nose, long philtrum (upper lip length), wide mouth, full lips, small chin, and puffiness around the eyes. Blue and green-eyed children with Williams Syndrome can have a prominent "starburst" or white lacy pattern on their iris. Facial features become more apparent with age.
The majority of individuals with Williams Syndrome have some type of heart or blood vessel problem. Typically, there is narrowing in the aorta (producing supravalvular aortic stenosis SVAS), or narrowing in the pulmonary arteries. There is a broad range in the degree of narrowing, ranging from trivial to severe (requiring surgical correction of the defect). Since there is an increased risk for development of blood vessel narrowing or high blood pressure over time, periodic monitoring of cardiac status is necessary.
Some young children with Williams Syndrome have elevations in their blood calcium level. The true frequency and cause of this problem is unknown. When hypercalcaemia is present, it can cause extreme irritability or "colic-like" symptoms. A low calcium diet stabilizes the situation. In most cases, the problem resolves on its own during childhood, but occasionally lifelong abnormality in calcium or Vitamin D metabolism may exist and should be monitored.
Most children with Williams Syndrome have a slightly lower birth-weight than their brothers or sisters. Slow weight gain, especially during the first several years of life, is also a common problem and many children are diagnosed as "failure to thrive". Adult stature is smaller than average.
Many infants and young children have feeding problems. These problems have been linked to low muscle tone, severe gag reflex, poor suck/swallow, tactile defensiveness etc. Feeding difficulties tend to resolve as the children get older.
Many infants with Williams Syndrome have an extended period of colic or irritability. This typically lasts from 4 to 10 months of age, then resolves itself. Abnormal sleep patterns with delayed acquisition of sleeping through the night may be associated with the colic. Extreme irritability may also be caused by hypercalcaemia in some children with WS.
Slightly small, widely spaced teeth are common in children with Williams Syndrome. They also may have a variety of abnormalities of occlusion (bite), tooth shape or appearance. Most of these dental changes are readily amenable to orthodontic correction.
There is a slightly increased frequency of problems with kidney structure and/or function.
Inguinal (groin) and umbilical hernias are more common in Williams Syndrome than in the general population.
Children with Williams Syndrome often have more sensitive hearing than other children; certain frequencies or noise levels can be painful and/or startling to the individual. This condition often improves with age.
Young children with Williams Syndrome often have low muscle tone and joint laxity. As the children get older, joint stiffness (contractures) may develop. Physical therapy is very helpful in improving muscle tone, strength and joint range of motion.
Individuals with Williams Syndrome have a very endearing personality. They have a unique strength in their expressive language skills, and are extremely polite. They are typically unafraid of strangers and show a greater interest in contact with adults than with their peers.
Most people with Williams Syndrome will have mild to severe learning disabilities and cognitive challenges. Young children with Williams Syndrome often experience developmental delays. Milestones such as walking, talking and toilet training are often achieved somewhat later than is considered normal. Distractibility is a common problem in mid-childhood, which can improve as the children get older.
Older children and adults with Williams Syndrome often demonstrate intellectual “strengths and weaknesses.” There are some intellectual areas (such as speech, long term memory, and social skills) in which performance is quite strong, while other intellectual areas (such as fine motor and spatial relations) show significant weakness.
Image credits:
Eveline & Til Carati, Heather & Eric Brakenrig and Thelma & Lew Smith Eveline & Til Carati, Isobel, Heather & Eric Brakenrig, Thelma & Lew Smith – 3 families involved with Dr J.C.P. Williams’ research
Gordon Crawford, Christina Finlay (later Crawford), Susan Sherie, Glen Ayres, Phillip Spice - Hypercalcaemia Assoc. meeting March 1984
Jason Taylor, Michael Clarke, Guy Blomfield, Wayne Howan – Hypercalcaemia Assoc. Meeting 15th March 1982
Danielle Fitton, Susan Sherie, Kate Sarah and Harley Tout
Back Row: Gordon Crawford, Susan Sherie, Danielle Fitton. Front Row: Kate Sarah, Harley Tout – NZWW 1st January 1990
Kit Crawford, Cleone Blombield and Jennifer Burson Kit Crawford, Cleone Blomfield, Jennifer Burson – March 1990 WS Meeting, Auckland
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