Achondroplasia
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X-Ray of a person with Achondroplasia
Appearance/Distinguishing Features:
short stature (adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or under)
short arms and legs (upper arms and thighs) in comparison to body height
short fingers (ring and middle fingers also point away from each other)
disproportionately large head compared to body
abnormally large forehead
underdevelopment of the mid-face region (between the forehead and upper jaw)
bowed legs
decreased muscle tone
curved lower spine
flat feet that are short and broad
crooked teeth
average sized torso
Physical Limitations/Behavior
Decreased muscle tone (causes a delay in walking and other motor skills)
Apnea (brief periods where breathing is slowed or stopped)
Hydrocephalus (water on the brain)
Spinal Stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress the spinal cord
Spine curvatures called kyphosis and lordosis
Can’t reach tall objects (other simple limitations that require the need for height)
Frequent middle ear infections which may lead to hearing losss
Normal intelligence
Normal lifespan
Just as normal as a regular person, but instead of having a normal height, they are a little bit shorter