Autism and Rett Syndrome note – Monday 5th June 2023

Posted on by Fiona

 

Autism and Rett Syndrome note – Monday 5th June 2023

I wanted to note a few things. Thinking on the ratios of persons with these conditions recently. Autism affects more boys than girls and Rett Syndrome affects vastly more girls. It’s for different reasons, however, the conditions do share some of the same paths.
For some time I have concluded that at least one of these pathways contributes to the severity. There are a number of reasons of course, that cause greater severity in these conditions.
In Rett Syndrome there is known mecp2 mutations for example that groups of children share yet their problems often differ.
And all sorts of reasons for it, and as well these conditions are very ingrained.
This may already have been noticed by the professional field. As we know, boys and girls are all shapes and sizes. And we see a spectrum whereby there are extremely feminine little girls through to girls who can seem boyish and this also happens with boys Ie extremely masculine through to the other end of that spectrum. Most people are in the middle area of the spectrum and a most unfortunate aspect I suspect, that should a person be ultra masculine or ultra feminine… (for example very petite in frame and features) and unfortunately have Rett Syndrome that this could cause their condition to be much more severe sadly.
Autism I suspect is using this same path, among others, so if your child is seeming to be more severely affected than other children this may be one of the reasons for that. And just knowing that this might be part of what is causing so much extra hardship for you and your child helps just a little to my mind.
Fiona MacLeod (C)