Can Treacher Collins syndrome be detected before birth?
It’s possible. Healthcare providers track fetal developmentwith regularultrasounds. Your child’s facial characteristics are usually visible via ultrasound by the beginning of yoursecond trimester. Ultrasounds might reveal more severe forms of Treacher Collins syndrome, but this isn’t always the case.
Can people with Treacher Collins have children?
Yes, people with Treacher Collins syndrome can have children. If you have Treacher Collins, there’s a 50% chance that your child will have it, too.
Does Treacher Collins syndrome affect my child’s brain?
There’s no evidence that suggests Treacher Collins affects brain development or intellectual ability. Children with hearing loss may experience certain developmental delays, but treatments like hearing aids and speech therapy can help.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
In our eyes, our children are perfect — and that’s how we want the world to see them. But Treacher Collins syndrome can make it difficult for the world to see our children as we see them.
There’s no cure for Treacher Collins syndrome, but healthcare providers have many ways to help. There are surgeries to ease breathing difficulties and hearing loss, as well as surgeries known as craniofacial reconstructions to help correct your child’s facial differences. Just as important, there are providers with experience and compassion who understand the journey you’re on — and they’ll walk with you every step of the way.
