Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group

Its name, meaning cry of the cat in French, is from the distinctive mewing sound made by infants with the disorder. As babies, patients tend to be squirmy with a mewing cry, ascribed to abnormal laryngeal development. The cry becomes less distinctive with age and mental unjust. Individuals with cri du chat syndrome are often underweight at birth. The disorder is characterized by distinctive facial features, small head size (microcephaly), low birth weight, weak muscle tone (hypotonia), a round face, epicanthal folds, low set ears, strabismus, facial asymmetry and downward slanting palpebral fissures. Cardiac malformations may occur and affect the vital prognosis. The importance of the whole syndrome seems to vary depending on the amount of lost DNA material.

In terms of development and behaviour, severe mental retardation is typical. Expressive language is an area of weakness, and signing is often used. Hypersensitivity to noise is common. Also, some have autistic traits such as repetitive behaviors and obsessions with certain objects. Apparently, many enjoy pulling hair. They are often happy children, and are described as "loving" and sociable.