Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Events
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Lifestyle
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Events
Newz Hook on WhatsApp Message "Start" at +917738204376

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Reset

  • Home
  • Get-hooked
  • Some useful Information about Angelman Syndrome

Some useful Information about Angelman Syndrome

Get-hooked

Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a genetic condition that affects the nervous system. It can lead to a delay in physical and mental development and also cause intellectual disability.

The syndrome is named after English pediatrician, Dr Harry Angelman, who first described this syndrome in the 60s.

The condition is also known as the Happy Puppet Syndrome as the affected children smile often and have wide mouths.

Angelman Syndrome is a rare condition and occurs in 1 in 10 000-25 000 births. Both boys and girls are equally affected by the disorder. It is caused due to a defect in chromosome 15 and can be inherited or be a gene mutation.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of AS can appear at an early age. Here are a few of them.

– Delayed physical, mental growth

– Speech, language impairments

– Walking and balance disorders

– Seizures

– Frequent laughter and a happy nature with lots of smiles

– Hand flipping

– Excitable nature

Apart from these very common signs, there can be some other symptoms also such as a small head size, wide mouth and widely spaced teeth, swallowing and feeding problems, drooling, sleep disturbance, attraction to water and more.

Most of the signs are noticeable at a very young age and parents should get the children diagnosed as early as possible. Early intervention is extremely crucial to get the right treatment or therapy started.

Treatment

At present there is no cure for AS. Medications can be used to manage symptoms such as seizers, fits, and sleep disorders. People with AS tend to have a happy disposition generally. They are smiling and content most of the time but they need care and help in being trained to learn coping skills.

People with the Angelman Syndrome can have communication issues but they enjoy interacting with others. They like being spoken to and being in the company of others. Therapy can help children with AS to learn skills such as communicating without speech and understanding what is being said to them.

Dr.Vinita P. Jariwala, is a Mumbai-based paediatrician with experience of screening children with Angelman Syndrome. She shared her valuable insights with Newz Hook.

“Therapy can aid in making the lives of affected children less challenging. Children with Angelman Syndrome can be taught and trained to manage their day to days simple tasks independently with regular therapy. However, it is vital that the condition is detected as early as possible. Delayed detection can hamper the growth and learning prospects of the children.” – Dr.Vinita P. Jariwala, Paeditarician

“Children with AS are happy children most of the time, are also hyperactive. Children with AS have slower development and take time to reach growth milestones as compared to other children. Parents should remain alert about their child’s development and get timely professional advice,” Dr Jariwala added.

There is a severe lack of awareness in India about AS and in most cases the children are misdiagnosed as having some other disorder. The misinformation and shortage of guidance leads to several children missing out on the correct mode of therapy.

The lack of support for parents of children with AS led a Mumbai-based mother to set up a group called the Angelman Foundation.

Pooja Joshi Bhadrige, a former banker became aware of the syndrome when her son was diagnosed with the condition a few years back. She has started a website that provides information and support to other parents whose children are diagnosed with AS.

Parents need to be made aware of disorders such as Angelman syndrome so that children are not misdiagnosed. Right information and support at the right time can go a long way in helping children affected by AS and their families. Early and correct detection of disorders is vital to give better life to the affected children. It also helps the parents to become mentally stronger and more capable of caring for their children as they grow older. Pooja Joshi Bhadrige, Parent-Founder, Angelman Syndrome Support Group

Pooja is in constant contact with around 30 parents from all over India who have kids with AS. She hopes to continue spreading awareness about the Angelman Syndrome to ensure that children are detected early and parents get the much needed support.

To know more about Angelman syndrome and the support group visit Angelman Foundation

Watch in Sign Language

Follow us on:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Headlines |
    December 9, 2019
    US legislators pass resolution on Jammu & Kashmir
  • Technology
    Self-teaching Marathi app ‘Swalekhan’ aims to empower visually impaired people across Maharashtra
  • Headlines |
    December 4, 2019
    Government must be open to feedback: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
  • Headlines |
    December 4, 2019
    Women can carry pepper spray in Bangalore Metro
  • Headlines |
    December 4, 2019
    Chennai engineer spots Vikram Lander on Moon
  • Headlines |
    December 7, 2019
    Maharashtra politician Ajit Pawar cleared of corruption charges
  • Ask-Bhavna
    I am disabled as I have polio affected leg. Can I get license for a two wheeler?
  • Parasports
    Para shooter Akhil SR hopes to bring home international accolades for India
  • Education
    National Association for the Blind, Delhi opens a Science Lab for visually impaired school going students
  • Parasports
    Maharashtra’s Para Wheelchair Cricket Association is making the game popular

Ask Bhavna


Ask your question about any issue related to disability, this is your space to find the answer.

Ask your Question

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

World Disability Day celebrations at India Gate

Get-Hooked

Thousands of people gather at India Gate in New Delhi for World Disability Day celebrations

Image of Chennai Beach

Get-Hooked

Over 300 people walked barefoot at Chennai beach to mark World Disability Day

Delhi Disabilities Commissioner T D Dhariyal.

Get-Hooked

#PowerOfOne – Delhi Disabilities Commissioner T D Dhariyal believes in tough action, not just words

Image of FractoAid plaster splint used on a person's arm

Get-Hooked

Orthopaedic splint FractoAid immobilises fractured limbs instantly, prevents possible disability

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-Hooked

Understanding Headaches in Children with Autism

Get-Hooked

Understanding Benefits of Learning Coding For Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Accessibility

Ex-IIM prof Dr Anita Sharma is teaching people with disabilities how to drive

Get-Hooked

Understanding Stress of Moving House for Child with Autism

Ask Bhavna

Hi, I'm Bhavna Sharma. An Inclusion Strategist with Newz Hook. Yes, I am a person with disability. But that doesn't define who I am. I am a youth, a woman and also the 1st Miss Disability of India 2013. I wanted to achieve something in life and I have been working for the last 9 years. I have recently completed my MBA in Human Resources because I want to grow. I am like every other young person in India. I want a good education, a good job and I want to help my family financially. So you can see I am like everyone else, yet people see me differently.

Here is the Ask Bhavna column for you where I would like to talk to you about the law, society and people's attitudes and how we can build inclusion in India together.

So, if you have a question about any issue related to disability, bring them out and I can try to answer them? It could be a question relating to a policy or of a personal nature. Well, this is your space to find the answers!

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.


About Newz Hook

We are India's 1st Accessible News Channel. Changing attitudes towards disability in india with a special focus on disability related news. Accessible to visually impaired screen reader users, promoting sign language news for deaf and using simple english.

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit an Event
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.