How many stages of development does Rett syndrome have?
A. Although staging of Rett syndrome was important in the early years, after gaining more experience and learning how to manage the myriad clinical problems, not the least of which is nutrition, the staging system is not of great relevance at this point. Due to the improvements in medical management, we have changed the clinical landscape of RTT for the better. What is clear is the temporal profile of RTT: a period of normal early development followed by a plateau and then frank regression of developmental skills with subsequent improvement in communication and socialization skills including piercing eye contact, yet with slowing of motor activities (not another regression) through adulthood. Q. How far has treatment of Rett syndrome come? A. I often say that the girls and women we meet today are quite different from those 20-25 years ago, all due to better recognition of clinical problems, improved medical management and enhancement of specific therapies including physical, occupation
