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 (a form of muscular dystrophy. 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, intellectual disability, 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) supports research related to cerebellar hypoplasia and
its associated disorders through grants to major research 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) 55 Kenosia Avenue Danbury, CT 06810 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 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20009 nichcy@aed.org http://www.nichcy.org Tel: 800-695-0285 202-884-8200 Fax: 202-884-8441 |
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Last updated September 29, 2011