Neuropsychological Profile of an Adolescent Female With Ectodermal Dysplasia With Hypohidrosis

Abstract

The ectodermal dysplasias are a group of rare genetic disorders that are caused by abnormalities in cell and tissue development of the embryonic ectoderm. A paucity of research has systematically examined the cognitive, academic, and psychological phenotype of individuals with ectodermal dysplasia. We describe the neuropsychological profile of a female adolescent with ectodermal dysplasia with hypohidrosis. Using a battery of standardized tests, we assessed the adolescent’s intellectual functioning, language processing, visuospatial and visuomotor functioning, perceptual reasoning, sensory–motor functioning, memory, executive functioning, academic functioning, emotional and behavioral functioning, and adaptive functioning. Results from the testing indicated that the adolescent possessed relative verbal strengths, with scores generally falling in the low average to average range. However, she exhibited severe deficits in visuospatial functioning, visuomotor construction/organization, visuomotor integration, visual memory, executive functioning, reading, and math. She also presented with symptoms of anxiety and depression but had relatively strong adaptive skills. Based on the testing results from our evaluation, the adolescent met the criteria for specific learning disorders with impairment in reading and math, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. To our knowledge, this is the first case report to comprehensively characterize the full neuropsychological and academic profile of an adolescent female with ectodermal dysplasia with hypohidrosis. Recommendations from the evaluation are presented to inform clinical practice with, and future research of, this population.

Das Münsteraner Konzept zur Therapie der ektodermalen Dysplasien im Kontext der wissenschaftlichen Literatur

“…Wie zuvor dargelegt, bemerken Kinder bereits im Kindergartenalter, dass sie weniger Zähne haben oder anders aussehen, ohne einen psychischen Leidensdruck aufzubauen. Das Alter, in welchem betroffene Kinder sich ihrer schwierigen Umstände und Zukunftsaussichten bewusst werden, wird mit 9 Jahren angegeben; erste Symptome einer depressiven Krise können im Alter von 8–11 Jahren entstehen 28 29 30 . Mädchen mit ED fallen durch emotionale Probleme eher im Alter von 11–14 Jahren auf, wobei insgesamt funktionelle Probleme im Alter zwischen 15 und 19 Jahren angegeben werden 31 .…”