Signs & Symptoms of Moebius Syndrome

Individuals with Moebius syndrome cannot move their facial muscles. The rare neurological condition is marked in infants by an inability to suck and in adults by an inability to show emotion in their faces. Therapy and surgery to treat symptoms such as speech difficulties and crossed eyes help many patients with Moebius syndrome survive and thrive.

What It Is

• A form of congenital facial paralysis, Moebius syndrome results when the 6th and 7th cranial nerves fail to develop fully or at all. The condition can also involve malfunctions of other cranial nerves and can cause a host of secondary disorders, including difficulty in breathing, problems with swallowing and sleep disorders. Only about 300 cases of Moebius (or Möbius) syndrome have been reported worldwide. The cause is unknown.

Symptoms

• Babies born with Moebius syndrome cannot suckle. Other signs of the condition that may be present at birth include absence of blinking, cleft palate, club feet, deformed hands or feet, high palate and a short or deformed tongue.
  Noticeable symptoms of Moebius syndrome in children and adults can include crossed eyes (strabismus); drooling; hearing impairment; the inability to move eyes from side to side; lack of facial expressions, especially smiling; light sensitivity; slow body movements and upper body weakness; and speech disorders.

Treatments

• Infants may need to be tube-fed or have formula given to them in bottles that do not require suckling. Surgery can correct crossed eyes and jaw and limb deformities, and surgery has allowed some Moebius syndrome patients to smile. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes further notes that "physical and speech therapy often improves motor skills and coordination, and leads to better control of speaking and eating."

Prognosis

• Individuals who receive proper therapy and support live normal lives. Interviews with 18 adults with Moebius syndrome reported in the May 2001 issue of the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal showed that all the individuals "were or had been gainfully employed in a variety of professional or vocational positions."

Support

• The Moebius Syndrome Foundation offers a range of brochures, newsletters, and links to other patient support groups on its website. The foundation also provides information on purchasing special bottles for feeding babies with Moebius syndrome and advice on protecting the eyes of children who cannot squint or blink from sun damage.