Prader-Willi syndrome Ashleigh Hughes
Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, that affects development and growth. It is estimated that 1 in 15,000 people ae born with PWS. Girls and boys are both equally affected. There is no cure for the disorder, however professional heath care can improve the child’s quality of life.
Prader-Willi syndrome is a life long genetic disorder, where seven genes on chromosome 15 are deleted. People who suffer from PWS may have physical, mental and behavioural problems. The main one being unable to suppress the feeling of hunger. An individual with PWS may have a serious issue in controlling their body weight, this is due to the obsession with food and eating. Prader-Willi syndrome is not inherited. There are two clear medical stages to the syndrome. The first appears from birth through to the ages of two to four. At birth, babies are born with low muscle tone, this mean they they will need to be fed by gavage or special teats. They also sleep a lot, so its important that the babies position is change regularly so that they are not always laying on the same side.
The low muscle tone means that it takes a lot
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Poor behaviour and tantrums are a major part to the syndrome and are not a result of lenient parenting. When in school all staff should agree to the same method of dealing with the child such as building supported change and choice into lessons and activities. Weakness in maths and writing are common, however reading and art skills are strengths. Short term auditory memory is often weak, but long term memory is again a strength. Cues and visual aids to learning should be used as much as possible. With in schools all school staff should be aware of the dietary control. Like all children, those affected by PWS perform at a higher level if their strengths are acknowledged and