Congenital Hypotonia

Congenital Hypotonia is a medical term used to refer to poor muscle tone that’s present at birth (congenital). Depending on the underlying cause, Hypotonia can appear at any age. It’s not a disease but a sign of an underlying problem. 

Causes include central nervous system and muscle disorders. Sometimes, the cause can’t be determined. Signs and symptoms of Hypotonia include: 

• Floppy appearance 
• Significant weakness 
• Little or no head control 

Hypotonia doesn’t affect intelligence. But it may delay development of large-muscle movement and coordination (gross motor skills)

Some children are born with Hypotonia that isn’t related to a separate condition. This is called Benign Congenital Hypotonia. A specialist at OTFC Group can assist with physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help your child gain muscle tone and stay on track with development. 

Typical symptoms include general weakness and flaccidity of the muscles (reduced strength and endurance). Depending on the underlying disease, different sets of muscles may be involved. In infants, Hypotonia often results in: 

• Poor suckling (and chewing) 
• Inability to lift the head, rolling instead of crawling 
• Weak cry 
• Physical passivity 
• The child feels like a sack of jelly when you pick them up – they want to slide out of your hands 
• When the mouth muscles are involved, drooling and speech difficulties can occur in children
• Hypermobility of joints (how far back can you bend your fingers?). Hypotonic children often find it comfortable to sit in the “W” position and other painful or contortionist looking postures 
• Poor reflexes 
• Delayed physical milestones (“Developmental Delay”) 
• Constipation for those whose bowel muscles are affected 

The outcome in any particular case depends largely on the nature of the underlying disease. Typically, the Hypotonia does not get much worse, and sometimes improves. Usually, life expectancy is not seriously threatened. Hypotonia does not intrinsically affect intelligence, though a number of underlying diseases may have adverse effects on one or more aspects of cognition. 

Hypotonia may be diagnosed at birth. In some cases, however, you may not notice your child’s condition until they’re older. An indicator is that your child isn’t meeting developmental milestones. Schedule regular appointments for your child with a doctor and be sure to mention any concerns you have about your child’s progress. Your doctor will assess your child’s development and run tests if they have concerns. Tests may include blood tests and MRI and CT scans. 

If you notice sudden signs of the condition in a person of any age, seek emergency medical care.