Yes, anxiety is extremely common and a core feature of Williams syndrome (WS), affecting a large majority (60-90%) of individuals and often persisting from childhood into adulthood, leading to significant challenges, but it is treatable with adapted therapies like CBT. People with WS are at a much higher risk for anxiety disorders (like GAD, phobias) than the general population or even other groups with intellectual disabilities, often linked to their hypersociability and executive function issues.
This excessive gregariousness may be a window into the science of sociability. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience earlier this year, people with Williams syndrome have brains that are especially attuned to happy facial expressions and not so much to fearful ones.
A Life Without Fear
Children with Williams are often physically small and frequently have developmental delays. But also, kids and adults with Williams love people, and they are literally pathologically trusting. They have no social fear.
Changes with Age in Williams Syndrome
The profile of cognitive strengths and weakness reported in Williams syndrome also remains relatively stable with age, although some improvements with age are reported, particularly for performance IQ. Reading and spelling may improve but only minimally.
Some adults are able to function independently, complete academic or vocational school, and live in supervised homes or on their own; most live with a caregiver. Parents can increase the likelihood that their child will be able to live semi-independently by teaching self-help skills early.
Individuals with Williams syndrome have also been strongly associated with high anxiety levels, as well as phobia development,17,18 hyperacusis,12 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 70% of individuals with Williams syndrome have been diagnosed with ADHD),7,14,15 and related psychological symptoms such as ...
The mental age of participants was assessed using the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Ability-Revised (WJ-COG-R; Woodcock & Johnson, 1989–1990). The mean mental age of the entire sample was 6 years 3 months (range: 2.16–10.58 years), typical of the WS population.
The majority of behavioural difficulties in people with Williams syndrome tend to relate to problems in attention and impulsivity. There is little evidence for self-injury in Williams syndrome.
Most individuals with Williams syndrome have a degree of intellectual disability, ranging from mild to severe. Research studies have suggested that IQ scores for children with Williams syndrome range from 40 to 112, with a mean IQ score of 68 which equates to a mild intellectual disability (average IQ is 100).
While people with WS typically have normal fertility, they frequently do not have children because of their health and intellectual disabilities. HOW IS WILLIAMS SYNDROME DIAGNOSED?
Residents with Williams syndrome who desire employment are often enrolled in Job Skills Training. They learn the importance of staying on task, arriving at work on time, taking directions and adopting appropriate behaviors in an employment setting.
(7/15) The Myth: People with Williams syndrome can't/won't drive. Mythbuster: A small but growing number of individuals are obtaining licenses and drive themselves to work and around town daily – in cars or even a few on motorcycles.
Individuals born with Williams syndrome have a normal life expectancy but may experience medical, cognitive and behavioral challenges of varying severity.
Common issues include: reflux, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and dysmotility. Less common but significant issues include diverticulitis (at much younger age than is common in the general population)celiac disease, and gluten intolerance.
Affected individuals have outgoing, engaging personalities and tend to take an extreme interest in other people. Attention deficit disorder (ADD), problems with anxiety, and phobias are common among people with this disorder.
Even without having Williams, some people would like to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, some people would like to get married or have children, but other people don't want these things. There are adults with Williams who are married and some who have children.
Matt Damon
The Hollywood heavyweight, who boasts an IQ of 160, famously completed the project with his longtime friend Ben Affleck.
This is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and neurological factors that affect the development of social and emotional skills in people with Williams syndrome. This trait is thought to be partly due to the deletion of several genes involved in the development of anxiety and fear.
Just as there are many options for work, there are many different supported living options that can be suitable for adults with WS. Some adults with WS are able to live completely on their own, with or without, a roommate.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
distinctive facial features – including a long upper lip, small chin, generous lips, chubby face, upturned nose and flattened nose bridge. Some people with Williams syndrome may have a squint. weight and growth problems – a newborn baby with William syndrome may have a low birth weight and gain weight slowly.
There are no significant physical reasons why people with Williams Syndrome cannot conceive normally, but their own health may pose a potential risk, particularly if they have a heart condition. There are also issues to consider about the reality of coping with pregnancy, birth and a child or children.
Individuals with WS typically have an intellectual disability, learning difficulties and impairments in more specific areas of cognitive functioning, such as visual-spatial construction, attention and executive functions (Cherniske et al., 2004; Thomaidis, Amenta, Youroukos, & Fryssira, 2004; Wilska & Kaski, 2001).
Individuals with WS exhibit consistent and unique patterns of social behavior, characterized by an overly friendly, affectionate, engaging, and socially disinhibited personality particularly toward strangers, apparent cross-culturally, and through separable channels of communication, such as eye gaze and language.