Can someone with Williams syndrome have kids?

Can people with Williams Syndrome have a child/children of their own? There are no significant physical reasons why people with Williams Syndrome cannot conceive normally, but their own health may pose a potential risk, particularly if they have a heart condition.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on williams-syndrome.org.uk

Can a person with Williams syndrome get married?

"You listen to what I say, I listen to what you say, and then we build on that," Pober says. "But to sustain the attention and build on the dialogue enough to really get to know someone is hard for many folks with Williams syndrome." Pober says few people with William's syndrome marry, and even fewer have children.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on npr.org

Can Williams syndrome be passed down?

Williams syndrome is caused by not having a copy of 25 to 27 genes on chromosome number 7. In most cases, the gene changes (mutations) occur on their own, either in the sperm or egg that a baby develops from. However, once someone carries the genetic change, their children have a 50% chance of inheriting it.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mountsinai.org

What is the life expectancy of a child with Williams syndrome?

Most people with Williams syndrome have a normal life expectancy, but some may have a reduced life expectancy due to complications of the disease (such as cardiovascular problems). Oftentimes, people with Williams syndrome will need additional support as they grow into adults.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on my.clevelandclinic.org

Does Williams syndrome get worse with age?

Although hyperactivity may reduce in adults, persistent distractibility is still noted for many. Adults with Williams syndrome may also be less eager to learn than children with Williams syndrome. Anxiety tends to persist with age and adults may acquire additional fears and phobias over time.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on findresources.co.uk

Living with Williams Syndrome (A Condition that Makes You Friendly)

16 related questions found

Can people with Williams syndrome have normal IQ?

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).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on findresources.co.uk

Are people with Williams syndrome happy?

They may have a unique ability to connect with others and form strong bonds, making them appear very happy and engaging. Additionally, people with Williams syndrome often have a keen interest in music. They may have a talent for it, contributing to their overall well-being and happiness.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicinenet.com

Is Williams syndrome a form of mental retardation?

Williams syndrome is caused by a microdeletion of at least 16 genes on chromosome 7q11. 23. The syndrome results in mild to moderate mental retardation or learning disability. The behavioral phenotype for Williams syndrome is characterized by a distinctive cognitive profile and an unusual personality profile.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is Williams syndrome a form of autism?

Autism and Williams syndrome are genetically based neurodevelopmental disorders that present strikingly different social phenotypes. Autism involves fundamental impairments in social reciprocity and communication, whereas people with Williams syndrome are highly sociable and engaging.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on academic.oup.com

Is Williams syndrome part of autism?

In some ways Williams syndrome is the opposite of autism. For example, people with Williams syndrome love to talk and tell stories, whereas those with autism usually have language delay and little imagination. Many people with Williams syndrome draw disjointed pictures, some with autism draw pictures in perfect detail.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on spectrumnews.org

Can Williams syndrome get pregnant?

There are no significant physical reasons why people with Williams Syndrome cannot conceive normally, but their own health may pose a potential risk, particularly if they have a heart condition. There are also issues to consider about the reality of coping with pregnancy, birth and a child or children.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on williams-syndrome.org.uk

Does Williams syndrome come from mom or dad?

Inheritance. Most cases of Williams syndrome are not inherited. The chromosomal alteration usually occurs as a random event during the formation of reproductive cells (eggs or sperm) in a parent of an affected individual. These cases occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medlineplus.gov

What is the most common cause of death for people with Williams syndrome?

Cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of death in patients with WS.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ahajournals.org

Why are 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.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nationalgeographic.com

What is unusual about many people with Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is caused by the deletion of genetic material on chromosome 7. Typical characteristics include distinctive facial features, mild intellectual disability and an overly sociable personality.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on betterhealth.vic.gov.au

What is the personality of someone with Williams syndrome?

Children with Williams syndrome typically have a personality that is friendly, outgoing, and/or talkative. The appropriate use of language and vocabulary range may be unusually enhanced in some children with this disorder. Mild to moderate mental retardation may occur.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on rarediseases.org

Do kids with Williams syndrome talk?

Communication difficulties: Most children with Williams syndrome develop speech skills later than other children their age. With intervention, most children develop the ability to communicate wants and needs effectively. In fact, for many children with Williams syndrome, expressive language may be a relative strength.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on urmc.rochester.edu

Do kids with Williams syndrome sleep?

Parents of 57 of the 96 children (59.4%) indicated that their child had difficulty falling asleep. Thirteen children (out of 95, 13.7%) were reported to wake up more than twice per night and 26 (out of 95, 27.4%) had difficulty falling back asleep if they woke up at night.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on jneurodevdisorders.biomedcentral.com

What is it like living with Williams syndrome?

Driven To Trust. Jessica's daughter, Isabelle, has Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder with a number of symptoms. Children with Williams are often physically small and frequently have developmental delays. But also, kids and adults with Williams love people, and they are literally pathologically trusting.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on npr.org

Do people with Williams syndrome talk a lot?

The low I.Q., however, ignores two traits that define Williams more distinctly than do its deficits: an exuberant gregariousness and near-normal language skills. Williams people talk a lot, and they talk with pretty much anyone [p.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How many people in the world have Williams syndrome?

WS affects 1 in 7,500 - 10,000 people worldwide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States. It is known to occur equally in both males and females and in every culture. Children with Williams syndrome tend to be social, friendly, and endearing.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on williams-syndrome.org

Can people with Williams syndrome talk?

Onset of speech is often delayed in children with Williams syndrome and articulation can be affected by muscle tone issues. Once speech has been acquired children often experience difficulties with processing information.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on williams-syndrome.org

Can you live a normal life with Williams syndrome?

Despite the possibility of medical problems, most children and adults with Williams syndrome are healthy and lead active, full lives.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on williams-syndrome.org

What difficulties do people with Williams syndrome have?

People with WS may have mild to moderate delays in their cognitive development (ability to think and reason) or learning difficulties. They also may have a distinctive facial appearance, and a unique personality that combines over-friendliness and high levels of empathy with anxiety.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ninds.nih.gov

What do children with Williams syndrome have?

Williams syndrome is a rare (affecting 1 in 10,000 people) developmental disorder that can affect many parts of the body, including the heart and blood vessels. Children with Williams syndrome have mild to moderate intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, and an outgoing personality.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on childrenshospital.org