What Are the Common Symptoms of Fragile X?

Features usually include:

• mental impairment, ranging from learning disabilities to mental retardation
• attention deficit and hyperactivity
• anxiety and unstable mood
• autistic behaviors
• long face, large ears, flat feet
• hyperextensible joints, especially fingers
• Seizures (epilepsy) affect about 25% of people with fragile X

Boys are typically more severely affected than girls. While most boys have mental retardation, only one-third to one-half of girls have significant intellectual impairment; the rest have either normal IQ or learning disabilities. Math is often a particular challenge for girls. Emotional and behavioral problems are common in both sexes.

About 20% of boys with fragile X meet full criteria for autism.  Most boys and some girls have some symptoms of autism, but many tend to be very social and interested in other people.

Click here to learn the cause of Fragile X.