Emily Malcolm, PhD,  —

Children with Angelman syndrome often experience anxiety. In fact, a study based on the records of 53 Angelman patients indicated that just over half of them exhibited anxiety, among other symptoms. Another study examined 100 individuals with Angelman syndrome and found that 40% had anxiety…

Therapy animals may be helpful for children with Angelman syndrome, complementing treatment with medications and physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Animal-assisted therapy can reduce pain, depression, fatigue, and anxiety in these children, and enhance the benefits of traditional treatment. What are therapy animals? Therapy animals are pets,…

Dolphin-assisted therapy is a type of physiotherapy that includes dolphins. People with Angleman syndrome seem to be drawn to the water, and physiotherapy in the water — aquatic therapy — can help those who are apprehensive about falling while walking. In dolphin-assisted therapy, patients interact with dolphins…

Children with Angelman syndrome usually have muscle weakness, uncontrollable movements, and developmental delays. Physiotherapy can help patients with Angelman syndrome improve strength, coordination, balance, and posture. One type of physiotherapy that may be particularly beneficial for children with Angelman syndrome is aquatic therapy. What is aquatic therapy?…

Traveling can be challenging when you have a child with Angelman syndrome. Here are some tips to help you travel safely: Before traveling Planning ahead can help minimize the last-minute rush and related stress. While planning, consider factors such as who will be your child’s primary caregiver during travel.

Families affected by Angelman syndrome may struggle with stress and feelings of isolation. It can feel like no one truly understands what they are going through, and it can be hard to connect with others. Having a good support network can help. What is a support network? A support…

Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system, causing physical and intellectual disabilities. The disease is associated with a variety of symptoms that usually appear shortly after birth and include severe developmental delay, weak muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and difficulty moving. Because Angelman syndrome…

Caring for an infant or child with Angelman syndrome can be difficult. Many children with the disease have sleep disturbances. For parents, this usually means their own sleep is disturbed, too. Common sleep disturbances in Angelman syndrome include difficulty falling asleep, short sleep duration, and sleepwalking. Talk…

Being the parent of someone with a chronic disease, such as Angelman syndrome, can be challenging and exhausting. Many parents and caregivers also worry about what will happen if they are unable to care for their child due to age, an accident, or infirmity. If you take care of…

Caring for a baby with Angelman syndrome can be difficult. Among other challenges, infants with the disorder are often born with very weak muscle tone and have difficulty suckling, swallowing, and nursing. What are the feeding difficulties in Angelman syndrome? Infants with Angelman syndrome have weak muscle tone,…