What is it like to live with Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome may cause poor growth in childhood, and most adults with the condition are shorter than average. Williams syndrome can also cause endocrine concerns like having too much calcium in your blood and urine, an underactive thyroid and early puberty.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on my.clevelandclinic.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

How does Williams syndrome affect daily life?

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 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

What do people with Williams syndrome struggle with?

Description. Williams syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects many parts of the body. This condition is characterized by mild to moderate intellectual disability or learning problems, unique personality characteristics, distinctive facial features, and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) problems.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medlineplus.gov

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

28 related questions found

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

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

What mental health problems do adults with Williams syndrome have?

Anxiety is thought to affect between 60-90% of individuals with Williams syndrome. Mood regulation problems are also very common and often occur with ADHD, anxiety and sensory modulation difficulties.

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

Why are Williams syndrome people so happy?

And they found that people with Williams syndrome have a lot more oxytocin than everybody else, and that it fluctuates wildly in the brain. As a result, they feel this biological impulse to love all the time.

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

Can people with Williams syndrome be sad?

Although low mood in Williams syndrome is less well researched, there are indications that clinical depression diagnoses may be present in approximately 10% of individuals.

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

Does Williams syndrome affect personality?

The personality of individuals with Williams syndrome involves high sociability, overfriendliness, and empathy, with an undercurrent of anxiety related to social situations.

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

What is the social behavior of Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic syndrome (prevalence 1: 75001) characterized by strikingly heightened social approach behaviors. Individuals with WS are typically described as “hypersocial”, with a strong social interest, friendliness, and attention to other's2,3,4,5,6.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nature.com

Can people 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

Do people with Williams syndrome get married?

Pober says few people with William's syndrome marry, and even fewer have children. But this may be changing, Pober says.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on npr.org

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 progressive?

Older children and adults with Williams syndrome may develop progressive joint problems that limit their range of motion.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on rarediseases.org

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

Is there a spectrum for Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome is a spectrum disorder. There is a great deal of variability in individuals throughout the spectrum. Medical concerns and learning challenges, emotional issues, and anxiety are common and can be all-consuming at times. The severity of the challenges varies and can ebb and flow over the years.

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

How do you talk to someone with Williams syndrome?

3) Use simple, concrete language at all times. Avoid complex and abstract explanations or concepts. 4) Remember that the person with Williams Syndrome usually understands less than may be apparent from the way they talk.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on williamssyndrome.org.au

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

What organs are affected by Williams syndrome?

Williams syndrome (WS; also known as Williams–Beuren syndrome; OMIM 194050), is a distinctive multisystem disorder (Figure 1, Supplementary box 1). The most common areas of involvement include the cardiovascular, central nervous, gastrointestinal and endocrine systems, although any organ system could be affected.

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

What is the average lifespan of someone with Williams syndrome?

Patients usually have a normal life expectancy. Some patients may have a reduced life expectancy. This is due to complications related to the heart and kidney. There is no cure for Williams syndrome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on childneurologyfoundation.org

What are 3 symptoms of Williams syndrome?

Symptoms of Williams syndrome are:
  • Feeding problems, including colic, reflux, and vomiting.
  • Inward bend of the small finger.
  • Sunken chest.
  • Heart disease or blood vessel problems.
  • Developmental delay, mild to moderate intellectual disability, learning disorders.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mountsinai.org

Does Williams syndrome affect IQ?

Even claims about very low IQ turn out to be exaggerated. Williams syndrome IQ ranges from 48 to 85. True, people with Williams syndrome are often very loquacious and usually have better language than spatial skills, but the profile of the syndrome is unscientifically exaggerated by secondary sources.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cell.com