Likewise an individual with Sotos syndrome that has been diagnosed with ADD may be treated with behavioral counseling and medications. Behavioral therapies may also be needed to combat aggressiveness, develop social skills, combat tantrums and some personality disorders that may be present. The mental retardation that can occur as a result of Sotos may be treated with learning therapies and through special education. Also language delay may be treated with speech therapy.
Individuals that develop tumors and cancer as a result of the disorder may be treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Likewise those with heart defects or kidney problems may need surgery or dialysis. Medical treatments may also be necessary as it relates to any skeletal malformations that may persist into adulthood as some researchers have reported that people with the syndrome can sometimes suffer from cervical complications that cause back pain and may affect their ability to walk properly. In such cases, surgery may also be necessary.
Although there is no standard treatment for Sotos syndrome because of the variability of the disorder, many of the individual symptoms of the disorder can be treated. However, treatment can become complex if the individual has multiple symptoms. Practitioners and parents must take extraordinary precautions to ensure the proper medications are prescribed and other types of therapies do not confuse the individual.
Discussion and Conclusion
The purpose of this discussion was to explain the etiology of the disorder, placing special emphasis on the neurological component of this syndrome. The research indicated that Sotos syndrome is caused by a mutation in the NSD1 gene. Hereditary factors have not yet been conformed because there are very few families with more than one person with the syndrome.
As it related to the neurological components of the disorder, the research indicates that Sotos Syndrome is a cephalic disorder or the central nervous system. The syndrome often results in hypotonia which affect mobility and muscle control. The research also indicates that the disorder affects the temporal lobe which in turn has an impact upon memory and hearing. In addition, the discussion focused on the symptoms and the treatment associated with the disorder. The research found a variety...
The most obvious symptoms involve the physical characteristics of people with the disorder. Other symptoms include language delays, hearing loss, aggressiveness, and personality disorders. There appears to be no standard treatment for the disorder but many of the symptoms of the disease can be treated.
Overall, it appears that Sotos Syndrome is an uncommon disorder that has several symptoms that occur concurrently. As a result the syndrome may be quite difficult to treat. It is apparent that a great deal more research needs to take place as it relates to Sotos Syndrome. It seems that because it is a genetic disorder there must be more emphasis placed on isolating the gene so that potential parents know whether or not their child might develop the disease. Such advances are being made slowly; the slowness of the progress probably has a great deal to do with the rareness of the syndrome. There are many more diseases that have higher prevalence rates and therefore garner more attention from researchers and resources.
References
Finegan, J.K.,Cole, Trevor R.P.;Kingwell, E.,Smith, M. Lou;Smith, M.,;Sitarenios, G. (November 1994) Language and behavior in children with Sotos syndrome. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Hglund, P., Kurotaki N., Kytl S., Miyake N., Somer M., Matsumoto N. (2003)
Familial Sotos syndrome is caused by a novel 1 bp deletion of the NSD1 gene. J Med Genet 2003; 40:51-54
NINDS Cephalic Disorders Information Page. Retrieved August 11, 2007 from;
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cephalic_disorders/cephalic_disorders.htm
NINDS Hypotonia Information Page. Retrieved August 11, 2007 from; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hypotonia/hypotonia.htm
NINDS Sotos Syndrome Information Page. Retrieved August 11, 2007 from; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sotos/sotos.htm
Sotos JF, Dodge PR, Muirhead D, Crawford JD, Talbot NB (1964), Cerebral gigantism in childhood. New England Journal of Medicine. 271: 109-116
Sotos Syndrome. Retrieved August 11, 2007 from; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=117550
Tanguay P.B. (2002) Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Schools. Jessica Kingsley Publishers
