Cri du Chat Syndrome and Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability Lawyer

Typically, applying for and receiving social security disability benefits can take many months.  But what if your disabling condition is so severe that you cannot wait?  Cri du Chat Syndrome is considered a disabling condition on the  Compassionate Allowance List, which qualifies an individual for an expedited approval process.

What is Cri du Chat Syndrome?

Cri du Chat (cat’s cry) Syndrome is a disorder resulting from a partial deletion of chromosome 5. The deletion happens in utero and is usually random. The size of the deletion determines the severity of the symptoms, which are thought to be the result of missing genes on the absent chromosomal fragment. Larger deletions often translate to more severe symptoms. The disorder is named after the tonal quality of the cries of affected infants. Cri du Chat Syndrome is characterized by intellectual and developmental delays, and in some cases, affected individuals are born with cardiac defects. The prognosis for children born with Cri du Chat Syndrome depends upon the severity of the symptoms.

Cri du Chat Syndrome Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of Cri du Chat Syndrome include:

• Cat-­‐like cry in infants
• Small head size
• Low birth weight
• Intellectual disability
• Developmental delay
• Poor muscle tone
• Distinctive facial features (wide-­‐set eyes, low-­‐set ears, small jaw, rounded face)
• Cardiac defects

If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to talk with a doctor immediately.

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits and Cri du Chat Syndrome

Cri du Chat Syndrome automatically qualifies you for social security disability benefits under the Social Security Administration’s guidelines.  If you or a loved one is diagnosed with Cri du Chat Syndrome, then you are considered disabled for at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis.