Neurological Impairment
Along with well documented speech and language disorders, neurodevelopmental delays are also sometimes observed in galactosemic patients. By some estimates, galactosemics experience trouble with gait, balance, and fine motor tremors in any where from 13 to 20 %.
In one study, 45 individuals with galactosemia were examined. In that study, 12 individuals were observed to have neurological symptoms that included ataxia, tremors, and dysmetria.
Ataxia is a total or partial inability to coordinate voluntary bodily movements (as in walking, etc.).
Tremors are rhythmic, involuntary muscular contractions characterized by oscillations (to-and-fro movements) of a part of the body. The most common of all involuntary movements, tremor can affect various body parts such as the hands, head, facial structures, vocal cords, trunk, and legs; most tremors, however, occur in the hands. Although the disorder is not life-threatening, it can be responsible for functional disability and social embarrassment. There are different types of tremors. One type is Kinetic or Intention tremor which occurs during purposeful goal-oriented tasks, for example finger-to-nose testing.
Dysmetria is improper estimation of distance during muscular activity. Dysmetria includes both hypo- and hypermetria. With hypermetria, voluntary muscular movement overreaches the intended goal; with hypometria, voluntary movement falls short of the intended goal. Hypermetria is more commonly recognized than hypometria.
If you suspect that your child may be exhibiting symptoms of any of these conditions, consult your child's medical professional and alert them to the possibility that such a condition may be related to galactosemia. Treatment for these conditions include various types of phyical therapy and/or medications.