How To Spot Jacob's Syndrome

Many individuals are unaware of what Jacob's syndrome means, though it is easy to spot once the knowledge is there. It’s more commonly referred to as XYY Syndrome, but it’s not a common health problem. XYY Syndrome occurs when an individual does not have the typical forty-six chromosomes in their cells. There is one X chromosome, and there is one Y chromosome. In some cases, however, a male child is born with an additional Y chromosome for a total of forty-seven chromosomes. This can happen in all cells, or it can happen in only a few cells. It happens to approximately one in every one thousand male babies born. Most young men with an extra chromosome live a happy, healthy life, but it’s not uncommon for them to have a few symptoms noticeable to those who know what to look for.

Delay In The Development Of Motor Skills

A delay in the development of motor skills is one of the most common signs of Jacob's syndrome, but it doesn’t always mean anything specific. A child might have some trouble learning to walk or crawl. They won’t go their entire life without learning these skills, but they might not learn to master them as quickly as a child with forty-six hromosomes. Other fine motor skills that might be a bit delayed include writing and speech skills. Most individuals attribute this kind of delay to boys being boys. Some don’t notice because they know babies all develop at a different rate. Some parents and teachers assume these boys aren’t paying attention in class, or they’re too busy dreaming of sports or play time, and others assume it’s just the immaturity boys tend to display. Some might worry, but doctors often tell parents it’s not uncommon for children to develop their motor skills in their own time.

Weak Muscle Tone

Weak muscle tone is referred to in the medical community as hypotonia, and it is one of the more noticeable symptoms of Jacob's syndrome. While a child with delayed motor skills might be delayed for a myriad of various reasons, weak muscle tone is exceptionally noticeable. It often presents itself in a child in a way that makes them look more like a rag doll than a child. They have difficulty holding up their arms, legs, and even their heads. Their muscles are just so relaxed that they often look as if they are too relaxed. This attributes to their learning disabilities associated with their delayed motor skills. Their muscle tone simply isn’t strong enough to allow them to sit up, crawl, or walk as quickly as a child with good muscle tone. It’s a scary realization for a parent when a baby has weak muscles. When the child is male, XYY syndrome might be at the top of the list for their doctor to check out when the parent brings them into the office.

Learning Disabilities

Kids who have trouble with their fine motor skills typically also have trouble learning. Learning disabilities are very common in kids with XYY syndrome, but there is no defined manner in which kids do or do not learn correctly. Some kids might not exhibit too many signs of this, but others might struggle across the board. The most common signs of a learning disability are kids who suffer from poor grades, don’t test well, become frustrated with their work, and don’t enjoy going to school. They dislike being called upon in class, and they are easily frustrated when they are faced with projects or anything school related. It might appear they don’t like school at all. It’s difficult for kids who have trouble learning to enjoy school when they feel as if they don’t measure up to their peers.

Troubles With Attention

Kids who live with this additional chromosome are often diagnosed with emotional and behavioral issues. They might struggle to pay attention only to certain things or even anything at all. Some kids might appear to constantly be on the move from one subject to another, and they might just have some additional issues. Some kids with Jacob's syndrome present with behavioral issues that make them come across as bad kids. Perhaps they only show these tendencies in school. They might have trouble making friends. They might not be able to play sports or participate in any type of teamwork situation because they have trouble with their attention, their emotions, and even their behaviors as a result. By itself, these signs might not make parents think anything other than their child is simply going through a difficult phase.

Delayed Speech Or Speech Difficulties

When a male child is born with XYY syndrome, he may develop his speech later than a child without this condition. This is another of those symptoms that might seem like another issue rather than automatically showing up as a sign of Jacob's syndrome. Many children develop delayed speech or speech difficulties for other reasons. Premature babies can sometimes take longer to develop proper speech patterns, and children who suffer trauma or an accident might be delayed as well. Children whose parents don’t talk to them often, don’t have older siblings, and don’t attend regular social situations might not speak as quickly. It can also be a sign a child has a hearing problem or another issue. It’s when this specific symptom is accompanied by others on this list that doctors realize what to look for. Doctors might spend time ruling out other health concerns prior to diagnosing a child with XYY syndrome.