It is important that physiotherapy should be practised on the baby from a very young age to help with breathing and lung function, and to encourage movement and strength. The baby may have poor head control. There is commonly facial weakness and a lack of facial expression. This does not mean that the child is unresponsive, it is simply that he or she may be unable to make the usual range of facial movements although these may improve with time. Parents, family, friends and care professionals, and later, teachers, should be made aware of this.
Older children tend to have poor motivation and concentration and are easily tired.
If a child can attend a therapeutic playgroup, this can have an important effect on stimulating learning and development which will help the child later in life. There may be speech difficulties, particularly with clear pronunciation. Speech therapy can help. A baby often has swallowing and therefore feeding difficulties. She or he may regurgitate food, have bouts of colic and need food supplements.