Guide To The Symptoms Of Tay-Sachs Disease

Seizures

Seizures occur in many children with Tay-Sachs disease as the condition progresses. When a child is around eight to ten months old, they will begin responding to outside stimuli less. They will also make fewer efforts to move. Seizures often occur immediately after or around the same time as the blindness. Seizure activity is typically documented before a child reaches one year old. The activity is a sign the brain is generating abnormal electrical activity due to nerve degeneration. Doctors may prescribe medications to ease the epileptic symptoms, though there aren't any medications that can halt the progression of the neurodegeneration. Medication options may be limited by the child's age, since many prescriptions are only approved for use in adults. Tonic-clonic seizure medications include phenytoin, valproate, and carbamazepine. Absence seizures can be treated with ethosuximide.

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Loss Of Hearing And Vision

As Tay-Sachs disease progresses, a child will almost inevitably experience loss of hearing and vision. The vision loss tends to occur at around ten months, often simultaneously with the appearance of the classic cherry red spot in the eyes. It's likely that children lose their hearing because of damage to their auditory nerves, damage to the sensory processing portion of their brain, or artery blockages caused by other symptoms. The timeline for hearing loss isn't as well-defined as that of vision loss because the auditory symptoms don't progress as methodically. Children tend to become increasingly less responsive from about one year old. Some of this can be attributed to the nervous system degeneration, while some may be caused by hearing loss that keeps them from experiencing sensory stimuli.

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