Adolescence in Turner syndrome Flashcards
1
Q
What is Turner syndrome?
A
- Chromosomal disorder (incomplete XX) that only affects females
- Occurs in 1 in 2500 libe births
2
Q
What difficulties may someone with Turner syndrome have? (5)
A
- Developmental disorder/learning difficulties
- Hearing difficulties
- Small in height
- Associated with communication and learning difficulties
- Specific physical, developmental and behavioural phenotype
3
Q
What is the impact of Turner syndrome in puberty?
A
- Absent/incomplete development at puberty as ovaries do not produce hormones which cause puberty
4
Q
Summarise the challenges of going to secondary school in Turner syndrome (6)
A
- Bullying
- Difficulty making friends
- Poor self-image and confidence
- Less intensive support
- Being perceived for the age they really are, despite having same social needs
- Hearing, language and comm difficulties - managing external demands
- Disengagement and mental health difficulties impacting on attendance and educational outcomes
5
Q
What are the difficulties someone with Turner syndrome may have with peers? (4)
A
- Difficulty making friends - not able to identify with her
- Not able to participate in the same way with her peers as can’t relate to the same experiences - lack of shared adolescent experience
- Look much younger and so other’s expectations and perceptions are changed
- Same social needs and desire to engage in teenage activities
6
Q
What are the possible emotional consequences of adolescence in Turner syndrome?
A
- Bullying may lead to disengagement, increases in anxiety and depression
- Poor self-image and confidence as they know they look different to others and compare themselves to their peers
7
Q
Why can it be difficult to identify mental health difficulties in people with SLCN?
A
- Difficulty describing symptoms, especially subjective symptoms such as feeling down/worried (Clegg et al., 2018)
- Diagnosis is more dependent on observing and identifying behavioural changes and functioning
