Triple X
Triple-X is a disorder in which a girl is born with an extra X chromosome. The typical female has two X chromosomes, while a girl with Triple-X has three. Researchers believe that the condition is under-diagnosed, because many women with Triple-X never present any symptoms at all. But for those who experience more severe symptoms, physical therapy is recommended as a mode of treatment.
What is Triple-X?
Doctors believe Triple-X to be the result of a random error in the genetic code. It is a genetic disorder, but it is not passed down from parents to a child. The prevalence of Triple-X is believed to be about one in every 1,000 live births of girls in America. It’s believed that the genetic error happens when an egg or sperm cell divides incorrectly, resulting in an extra X chromosome. Because it is a genetic disorder, there is no cure for Triple-X.
Symptoms of Triple-X
Some girls never present any signs of having an extra X chromosome and are able to live perfectly normal lives. In other cases, the symptoms can be severe. When working with a physical therapist at Jeevam Therapy, a course of treatment will be designed to address some of the specific symptoms that your daughter with Triple-X is experiencing. A few examples of the most common symptoms of Triple-X include:
- Low birthweight
- Delayed motor skills, such as sitting and walking
- Weak muscle tone
- Widely-spaced eyes
- Learning disabilities
- Sensory issues processing sounds
- Menstrual irregularities
- Flat feet
In the most severe cases of Triple-X, girls can also experience seizures and can have kidney deformities. Women with Triple-X tend to undergo early ovarian failure or have ovarian malformations.
How Physical Therapy Can Help with Triple-X
Although Triple-X can’t be cured, physical therapy can help girls with an extra X-chromosome to thrive and overcome the motor skills challenges they experience. This is especially true when physical therapy is used as part of an early intervention strategy.
When you come to one of our Jeevam Therapy facilities in Edison and Paramus, NJ for your first appointment, we’ll talk about your daughter’s symptoms and run some simple initial physical tests. Using that data and your doctor’s diagnosis of Triple-X, we will design a course of physical therapy that is unique to your daughter’s challenges.
We Are Here for You
Jeevam Therapy specializes in working with children with rare disorders. If your daughter has been diagnosed with Triple-X, click here to request an appointment and learn how physical therapy can help her overcome many of the challenges of her condition.
