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Living with Intellectual disability-brachydactyly-Pierre Robin syndrome

A rare syndrome present from birth with mild to moderate intellectual disability, short fingers, and a small jaw with cleft palate.

Understanding Intellectual disability-brachydactyly-Pierre Robin syndrome

Intellectual disability-brachydactyly-Pierre Robin syndrome is a rare developmental syndrome with mild to moderate intellectual disability and Robin sequence.

Robin sequence means a very small lower jaw and a cleft in the soft palate. Other features include short fingers (brachydactyly), small hands and feet, mouth and teeth differences, and distinct facial features. It is present from birth.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Global developmental delay
  • Mild intellectual disability
  • Cleft palate
  • Small head (microcephaly)
  • Long upper lip and exaggerated cupid's bow
  • Short fingers and small hands and feet

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 brain and nervous system specialists, ear, nose, and throat specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

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

  4. Connect with expert centers

    World Craniofacial Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Ear, nose, and throat specialists (otolaryngologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: World Craniofacial Foundation
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 World Craniofacial Foundation and other patient organizations
  • 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
How can we manage feeding and breathing with a small jaw and cleft palate?
Which specialists should be on my child's team?
Can genetic testing find the cause?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD says it is a developmental defect that happens during embryo development. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: robin sequence with distinctive facial appearance and brachydactyly

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Intellectual disability-brachydactyly-Pierre Robin syndromeGARD ID 17583 · 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 Intellectual disability-brachydactyly-Pierre Robin syndrome.

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