Fountain syndrome
Overview
Fountain Syndrome: A very rare inherited disorder involving mental retardation, sensorineural deafness, skeletal defects, coarse facial features and full lips.
Symptoms
Nerve deafness Mental retardation Skeletal defects Coarse face Full lips
Causes
A specific cause is identifiable in only about 25% of people who are mentally retarded, and, of these, only 10% have the potential for cure. (See Causes of mental retardation.) In the remaining 75%, predisposing factors, such as deficient prenatal or perinatal care, inadequate nutrition, poor social environment, and poor child-rearing practices, contribute significantly to mental retardation. Prenatal screening for genetic defects (such as Tay-Sachs disease) and counseling for families at risk for specific defects have reduced the incidence of genetically transmitted mental retardation. An estimated 1% to 3% of the population is mentally retarded, demonstrating an IQ below 70 and associated difficulty in carrying out tasks required for personal independence.