Primary Effects

• Often, the first sign of Moebius syndrome is an inability to suck. Babies with Moebius syndrome typically have trouble feeding and swallowing, and sometimes feeding tubes are necessary. A baby with Moebius syndrome usually cannot blink or squint, and her eyes cannot move laterally, so she turns her head to watch something move. She may have crossed eyes. She also cannot smile or show any other facial expression.
  
  

Other Physical Abnormalities

• Many other conditions are associated with Moebius syndrome. There may be motor developmental delays because of upper body weakness--for example, the baby may take longer to learn to crawl. He may have hearing impairment, club feet, cleft palate and a short or deformed tongue.
  
  

Other Conditions

• Intelligence is usually normal in people with Moebius syndrome, although about 10 to 15 percent have minor mental retardation, according to the Foundation for Faces of Children. About 30 percent have some degree of autism, according to the Moebius Syndrome Foundation. As children, they may have sensory integration disorder, a neurological condition that affects their ability to process certain types of sensory input effectively.
  
  

Possible Causes

• As noted in a 2005 issue of "Brain: A Journal of Neurology," some researchers theorize that Moebius syndrome has a genetic component and are working to determine a specific gene, while others believe it is caused by a temporary interruption of blood flow before birth, causing disrupted nerve growth.
  
  Use by pregnant women of the drug misoprostol, which treats and prevents gastric ulcers but also can cause miscarriage and birth defects, has been linked to the occurrence of Moebius syndrome. A case report published in a 1999 issue of "Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria" explores the link between misoprostol and Moebius syndrome and also cites thalidomide as another drug associated with the disorder. Thalidomide was used for morning sickness until it was discovered to cause severe birth defects; it is approved to treat multiple myeloma.
  
  

Treatment

• Treatment for children with Moebius syndrome includes speech therapy and physical therapy. Surgery can correct crossed eyes as well as any limb deformities or cleft palate issues. Surgeons also are able to transfer nerves and muscles to the mouth corners so the patient can smile. Sensory integration disorder can be treated with occupational therapy. Parents must provide psychological support appropriate for any child with a disability that can cause problems in her social and educational life.