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Living with Emanuel syndrome

A chromosome condition with low muscle tone, slow weight gain, significant developmental delay, a small head, and distinct facial features.

Understanding Emanuel syndrome

Emanuel syndrome is a chromosomal condition that disrupts normal development and affects many parts of the body.

Infants have weak muscle tone and don't gain weight and grow as expected. Development is significantly delayed, and most people have severe to profound intellectual disability. Other features include a small head, distinctive facial features, a small lower jaw, small pits in front of the ears, and a cleft or high palate in about half. Males often have genital differences. Heart and kidney differences can also occur.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
  • Poor weight gain and feeding difficulties
  • Delays in speech and development
  • Cleft or high palate
  • Hip dislocation at birth
  • Acid reflux and constipation

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include digestive system specialists, genetic specialists and heart and blood vessel specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Digestive system specialists (gastroenterologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Heart and blood vessel specialists (cardiologists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Chromosome Disorder Outreach
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Would chromosome testing of both parents help our family?
What heart and kidney tests does my child need?
What feeding and therapy support is available?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn

GARD says changes in a person's genes cause this condition. It describes it as a chromosomal condition.

GeneticGastrointestinal

Also known as: der(22) syndrome due to 3:1 meiotic disjunction events; der(22)t(11; 22) syndrome; supernumerary der(22) syndrome; supernumerary der(22)t(11; supernumerary der(22)t(11

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Emanuel syndromeGARD ID 9835 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Emanuel syndrome.

Explore the Emanuel syndrome blog

Explore research for Emanuel syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Emanuel syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Emanuel syndrome with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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