They may also have global developmental delays, including problems with speech, poor fine and gross motor coordination and mental retardation. Genetic testing can help to determine if your child has Prader Willi Syndrome. Genetic testing can help to determine if your child has Prader Willi Syndrome. Specific chromosome testing by fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH analysis, and polymerase chain reaction, or PCR testing, for uniparental disomy 15 can also be done. Once the diagnosis is confirmed or suspected, parents of children with Prader Willi Syndrome should see a genetic counselor for more information.
Prenatal testing is possible for any of the known genetic mechanisms.
Treatments in the newborn period are aimed at improving muscle tone and can include physical therapy. Nutritional support is also usually needed for newborns and infants, and can sometimes include requiring a gastrostomy tube to aid feedings. Further therapy can include an evaluation and management by an early childhood intervention program to help deal with developmental delays. Treatment by a speech, occupational and physical therapist can be essential to help children meet their developmental milestones. By ages two to five years, problems with appetite control usually begin.