Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group

Hearing and Vision

Visual problems are not frequent in CDCS children but when they do occur they can include near sightedness (myopia), dancing eyes (nystagmus) and optic nerve abnormalities. Hearing problems are also rare but there is a high incidence (between 70-80%) of a condition known as ‘hyperacusis’ (hypersensitivity to noise) in children with CDCS. This can manifest itself in a number of ways but the most frequent is for severe distress or agitation at a wide range of sounds, including sudden noises made from aeroplanes, lawn mowers, a balloon bursting, thunder, loud clapping etc. It is difficult to know whether these noises may be physically painful to the ears, or whether they may simply startle the child. As yet, we don’t know if hyperacusis gets better with age or continues into adulthood. It may very well depend upon the individual child. What we do know, however, is that this condition can be extremely distressing for both the child, and those around him or her (parents, siblings, teacher).

To help reduce the distress, you can comfort and try to explain in a way your child can understand about the source of the sound. It might also help to allow your child some control over certain loud noises. For example, encourage them to turn on the vacuum cleaner or shut the car door. Even learning to pop balloons themselves or clap other people’s hands may also help reduce the distress. Gentle but repeated exposure to some of the noises that most frequently distress your child may encourage familiarity and thus reduce its impact (i.e. make tape recordings of sounds that you and your child, in play, could switch on and off. You could also encourage your child to gradually turn up the volume on the recording so that the noise level gradually increases).