Cerebellar hypoplasia is a neurological condition in which the cerebellum is smaller than usual or not completely developed. Cerebellar hypoplasia is a feature of a number of congenital (present at birth) malformation syndromes, such as Walker-Warburg syndrome. It is also associated with several inherited metabolic disorders, such as Williams syndrome, and some of the neurodegenerative disorders that begin in early childhood, such as ataxia telangiectasia. In an infant or young child, symptoms of a disorder that features cerebellar hypoplasia might include floppy muscle tone, developmental or speech delay, problems with walking and balance, seizures, mental retardation, and involuntary side to side movements of the eyes. In an older child, symptoms might include headache, dizzy spells, clumsiness, and hearing impairment.
There is no standard course of treatment for cerebellar hypoplasia. Treatment depends upon the underlying disorder and the
severity of symptoms. Generally, treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research related to cerebellar hypoplasia and
its associated disorders in its laboratories at the NIH and also supports additional research through grants to major medical
institutions across the country. Much of this research focuses on finding better ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure
disorders that feature cerebellar hypoplasia.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 1968 (55 Kenosia Avenue) Danbury, CT 06813-1968 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) Fax: 203-798-2291 |
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education Programs P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013-1492 nichcy@aed.org http://www.nichcy.org Tel: 800-695-0285 Fax: 202-884-8441 |
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
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Last updated December 27, 2007