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.