Adaptive behaviour in CdLS

        For parents, caregivers, health care providers, and teachers, concerns and questions often arise regarding the care and well-being of individuals with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. 

Adaptive behaviours are age-appropriate behaviours that people need to function well in daily life and live independently. Adaptive behaviours include life skills such as dressing, grooming, food handling, safety, making friends, communication, cleaning, managing money and ability to work.

Individuals with CdLS demonstrate difficulties in adaptive behaviour across the lifespan. This means that many children and adults with CdLS will need help with daily tasks, such as washing and dressing. Many individuals with CdLS do not develop verbal communication skills. Expressive communication skills (ability to express oneself) are usually significantly more impaired than receptive language skills (ability to understand communication). Individuals with CdLS often use a number of non-verbal strategies to communicate, for example, social approach and pushing a person’s hand away.

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