Symptoms Of Rett Syndrome ( Rtt ) Usually Manifests As A...

Rett Syndrome (RTT) usually manifests as a severely debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder. This genetic disorder was once classified in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM IV and DSM IV-TR) as a part of Autism because many of the initial signs of the disorder, such as loss of receptive and expressive language skills, social/pragmatic skills, and stereotypical hand movements are traits expected to be seen in someone with Autism. However, there are key differences between the two disorders, namely the hand movements in Rett Syndrome are not the ones that are typically seen in ASD, children with Rett Syndrome often prefer people instead of objects and enjoy receiving affection from others. (RS.org ref) This disorder mostly presents in female children at a rate of 1:10,000-15,000 births and appears in every race and ethnic group around the world. This disorder rarely manifests in males, but when it does, the child usually does not survive, passing away shortly after birth (ninds). Rett Syndrome is thought to be caused by a mutation on the X chromosome in the MECP2 gene. There are four different types of Rett Syndrome including: typical or classic, early seizure or congenital onset, late onset, and preserved speech. (Rs.org) The diagnosis of either classic/typical RTT or a variant is done by a pediatric neurologist, developmental pediatrician, or a clinical geneticist (ninds) using a RTT Diagnostic Criteria Worksheet. According to Hagberg (2002), a child with classic RTT