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Background: The objective was to describe the main causes of hospitalization in people with Angelman syndrome (AS). Method: Population‐based cross‐sectional study in the Community of Madrid (CM), Spain. The information source for AS cases was the information system for rare diseases in the CM. Variables related to hospitalization, for the period 2006–2014, were the following: number of episodes, outcome, main cause, length of stay and type of admission. Main causes of hospitalization were described by age group and sex. Results: The most frequent causes of hospitalization were the following: oral–dental care (28.9%), seizures (19.6%), orthopaedic problems (14.4%) and acute respiratory disorders (12.4%). The percentage of hospitalizations was higher for oral–dental care in women and for orthopaedic problems in men (p‐value <.05). Hospitalizations for an acute respiratory disorder were higher in adults (p‐value <.05). Conclusions: Some differences in the causes of hospitalization of people with AS were observed by sex and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This investigation details procedures used to teach enhanced natural gestures ( ENGs) and illustrates its use with three students with Angelman syndrome ( AS). Materials and Methods Themes were extracted, using a process of content analysis, to organize individuals' feedback pertaining to previous versions of the instructional programme. A 'B' case study design was then employed to follow administration of the modified programme with three students in Madrid, Spain. Programme impact was examined relative to changes in each student's uses of ENGs spontaneously and in response to non-specific verbal prompts, along with team members' responses to a questionnaire designed to evaluate programme efficacy. Results Two of the three students demonstrated particularly rapid and spontaneous uses of their ENGs. Both quantitative and qualitative feedback from teams supported programme efficacy for all three students. Conclusions The approach appears viable for individuals with AS and has implications for individuals presenting other diagnoses as well. Additional educational/clinical and research implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder usually caused by an anomaly in the maternally inherited chromosome 15. The main features are severe intellectual disability, speech impairment, ataxia, epilepsy, sleep disorder and a behavioural phenotype that reportedly includes happy disposition, attraction to/fascination with water and hypermotoric behaviour. We studied the level of adaptive behaviour and the adaptive behavioural profile in the areas of 'motor skills', 'language and communication', 'personal life skills' and 'community life skills' in a group of 25 individuals with genetically confirmed AS, to determine whether there is a specific adaptive behaviour profile. None of the individuals, whatever their chronological age, had reached a developmental age of 3 years. A specific adaptive behaviour profile was found, with 'personal life skills' emerging as relative strengths and 'social and communication skills' as weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]