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Living with Intellectual disability-strabismus syndrome

A rare genetic syndrome with moderate to severe intellectual disability and inward-turning eyes.

Understanding Intellectual disability-strabismus syndrome

Intellectual disability-strabismus syndrome is a rare genetic syndrome with moderate to severe intellectual disability and crossed eyes (esotropia).

Other features can include slow growth, a small head, low or high muscle tone, epilepsy, and behavior problems like hyperactivity or aggression. Brain imaging may show differences, such as a cyst or a missing corpus callosum. It begins in the newborn period or infancy.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Crossed eyes (strabismus)
  • Moderate to severe intellectual disability
  • Small head (microcephaly)
  • Low muscle tone in infancy
  • Delayed speech and language
  • Brain shape differences on scans

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, eye disease specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in ADAT3 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
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 rare disease patient organizations for support
  • 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
Can genetic testing for the ADAT3 gene confirm the diagnosis?
What eye treatment options exist for crossed eyes?
Which therapies help with speech and development?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesADAT3

Changes in the ADAT3 gene cause this condition. 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: intellectual disability with strabismus syndrome; intellectual disability, autosomal recessive type 36; nedbgf; neurodevelopmental disorder with brain abnormalities, poor growth, and dysmorphic facies

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Intellectual disability-strabismus syndromeGARD ID 17563 · 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-strabismus syndrome.

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