(Symons, Clark, Roberts & Bailey, 2001, p. 194) Children affected with FXS need additional classroom and behavioral support, in much the same way that high and low level functioning autistic children need assistance.
The fragile X mutation can also cause two less severe patterns of disorders that cause carriers to be affected, depending on gender. Older male carriers can exhibit fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, which can seriously effect balance, memory and cause a demonstrative tremor, while in women is can cause fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency which can in some women lead to infertility and very premature menopause. Neither of these carrier associated diseases are necessary for a carrier to have the necessary gene disparity that creates the mutation that causes Fragile X syndrome. Carriers can be completely asymptomatic and there may be no known historical case in a family or several members of the same family can exhibit symptoms of Fragile X disorders. (National Fragile X Foundation (NFXF) Website, 2007, NP) This is the reason that genetic counseling is an essential element of the disease diagnosis as well as with regard to future fertility issues. (Strom, 1990, p. 52)
Though there is nothing that can be done to completely avoid Fragile X syndrome genetic counseling regarding current and future fertility is essential...
It is also important because of the common development of wrong and/or missed diagnosis. The diagnosis of FXS does not necessarily create a need for different behavioral or intellectual intervention, as all similar exhibiting interventions require greater emphasis on engagement in learning environments and at least some direct instruction, which can be offered in a resource room teaching, special education classrooms or in a traditional classroom with an instructional aide. FXS children can be aided from this special attention in the same manner as children with autism and/or ADD or ADHD as appropriate engagement determines the child's ability to be invested in and focused on educational tasks in the future. It is also important to note that boys are more frequently and severly affected than girls and often require more directed intervention.
References
National Fragile X Foundation "What is Fragile X Syndrome?" Retrieved April 30, 2008 at http://www.fragilex.org/html/what.htm.
Strom, C.M. (1990). Heredity and Ability: How Genetics Affects Your Child and What You Can Do about it. New York: Plenum Press.
Symons, F.J., Clark, R.D., Roberts, J.P., & Bailey, D.B. (2001). Classroom Behavior of Elementary School-Age Boys with Fragile X Syndrome. Journal of Special Education, 34(4), 194.
