Moebius syndrome is a rare birth defect in which the sixth and seventh cranial nerves, which control facial expression and eye movement, are missing or underdeveloped. The other cranial nerves, including those that control hearing and equilibrium, taste, tongue movements and some of the shoulder muscles, may also be affected. Moebius syndrome has a series of symptoms, all related to missing or impaired function of the cranial nerves.
Symptoms at Birth
At birth, babies with Moebius syndrome present with an inability to suckle. Babies also have tongue and jaw deformities and a high or cleft palate, contributing to problems feeding and swallowing as well as excessive drooling and choking. There may also be deformities in the limbs, such as clubfoot, and motor delays.
Symptoms in Older Children
The dominant symptoms in older children are the lack of facial expression and inability to smile. Children with Moebius syndrome are unable to move their eyes side-to-side due, in part, to the missing or damaged cranial nerves and, also because there is a noted decrease in eye muscle fibers. The disease also affects the nerves that control blinking and the combination of eye problems may lead to eye sensitivity. Moebius children also have hearing problems and speech difficulties. Some of the speech difficulties may be directly related to their hearing problems, while others may be because of the tongue and jaw deformities that are part of the disease. According to the Moebius Syndrome Foundation, approximately 30 to 40 percent of children with this condition have some degree of autism.
Prognosis
There is no cure for Moebius syndrome, but, with proper care, it is possible for people with this condition to live productive lives with normal life expectancy. Children with this condition tend to crawl and walk later than most but do eventually catch up, and many respond to physical therapy, for motor delay issues and speech therapy. Plastic reconstructive surgery may be an option, and nerve and muscle transfers to the mouth to have successfully provided some with limited ability to smile.
