discussion

First described by Dr. Henry Turner in 1938, an endocrinologist, and first to discover Turner syndrome when the treatment he gave to a group of women with dwarfism didn’t work. Turner syndrome is a common genetic disorder that is a result of an abnormality on the X chromosome. It’s a common genetic condition that affects about 1 in 2,500 females. Typically, girls have two x chromosomes, but if one has Turner syndrome, then that means she is either missing a whole x chromosome or part of one. Due to the missing or partially missing x chromosome, there are a multitude of medical and developmental problems that can arise. The most notable visible physical symptoms include; a short stature, with an average height of 4 feet 7 inches. Some lack breast development, experience abnormal bone growth, and a nonexistent of a menstruation cycle as well as many others. Cognitively, these girls suffer as well, with many of them struggle with social competence, although many have a normal IQ, its “accompanied by selective deficits in visuospatial reasoning skills, executive function, and social cognition.” (DS Hong, M.D. and AL Reiss, M.D., 2015) Socially, parents with children who have Turner syndrome report that their children have a considerable difficulty in social situations which not only effect them in childhood, but the impaired social incompetence seems to follow these girls into adulthood as well. Girls with Turner syndrome have a harder time forming and maintaining social relationships. Not only do they deal with social difficulties, but they also have problems with arithmetic as well as difficulties in their visuospatial abilities. This might include issues with processing facial expressions and other human emotions, which might lead to inappropriate impulsive behaviors, an inability to understand another’s point of view and being inflexible mentally. (Jean-François Lepage, Bria Dunkin, David S. Hong, and Allan L. Reiss, 2013.) Continued advances in MRI research has allowed scientists to find a small connection to a decreased volume of gray matter, using it as a link to explain the decreased efficiency in cognitive tasks. Unfortunately, due to Turner syndrome being a random genetic anomaly, since there is no known cause of the disorder, there are currently no methods of prevention. However, there are various options for treatment of the genetic disorder. It’s important for families with children who have Turner Syndrome to know that there are options that include family counseling and guidance, cognitive-focused therapies, various therapies for behavioral and social incompetence, as well as drug treatments as a last resort when it is needed. (DS Hong, M.D. and AL Reiss, M.D., 2015) Hong, D., & Reiss, A. (2012). Cognition and behavior in Turner syndrome: A brief review. Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews?: PER, 9(0 2), 710–712. Lepage, J., Dunkin, B., Hong, D. S., & Reiss, A. L. (2013). Impact of cognitive profile on social functioning in prepubescent females with Turner syndrome. Child Neuropsychology, 19(2), 161-172. Rovet, J., & Netley, C. (1982). Processing deficits in Turner's syndrome. Developmental Psychology, 18(1), 77-94. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.18.1.77