Characteristics of the Syndrome

•Major identifying characteristics
•Monotone, weak, cat-like cry
•Small head (microcephally)
•High palate
•Round face
•Small receding chin (micrognathia)
•Widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism)
•Low set ears
•Low broad nasal ridge
•Folds of skin over the upper eyelid (epicanthic folds)
•Distinctive palmar creases (creases on the palms of the hands)
•feeding problems because of difficulty swallowing and sucking,
•low birth weight and poor growth



•The most distinctive characteristic,cat-like cry.
• The cry is caused by abnormal larynx development, which becomes normal within a few weeks of birth
•Infants with cri du chat have low birth weight and may have respiratory problems.
•Some people with this disorder have a shortened lifespan, but most have a normal life expectancy
•Not every child will have every feature. Those only mildly affected may have very few or they may be less obvious.

•Babies with cri-du-chat are usually small at birth, and may have respiratory problems.
•Often, the larynx doesn't develop correctly, which causes the signature cat-like cry.
• They may have a small head (microcephaly), an unusually round face, a small chin, widely set eyes, folds of skin over their eyes, and a small bridge of the nose.
•Several problems occur inside the body, as well. A small number of children have heart defects, muscular or skeletal problems, hearing or sight problems, or poor muscle tone.
• As they grow, people with cri-du-chat usually have difficulty walking and talking correctly.
•They may have behavior problems (such as hyperactivity or aggression), and severe mental retardation. Unfortunately, most people with this disorder don't survive to adulthood.

•Intellectual disability ranging from mild to profound with the majority being moderate to severe
•Speech and language impairment varying from mild to profound.
• A small number do not speak at all but all can communicate with one or a combination of methods. .
•Low muscle tone and delayed motor development.
•Short attention span (almost 100%).
•Hyperactivity (approximately 25%)
•Challenging behaviours including obsessive, repetitive and sometimes self-harming behaviours such as head-banging and hitting, biting or scratching self.