The symptoms and characteristics of Rett Syndrome can vary from child to child, depending on the severity of their condition. The characteristics manifest themselves at an early age, in fact notable differences in the child's development appear between 6 and 18 months. These babies are the product of a normal pregnancy and birth and have normal development for the first 5 to 6 months of life. It is at this time that his parents will begin to notice a slowdown in development. At this stage it is very difficult to make a diagnosis because most parents might link it to discomfort or just age in general. The characteristics of Rett syndrome are generally most pronounced between 12 and 18 months (Mayo Clinic, 2012). These changes can happen very quickly. It could last from a few weeks to a month. According to the Mayo Clinic's Rett Syndrome Diseases and Conditions report, there are a number of symptoms related to this disorder. Most of these will have a direct effect on your education and the adaptations and changes that need to be made to provide you with the best education possible. Symptoms may include: slowed brain growth resulting in a smaller than normal head size; loss of normal movement and coordination, including a decrease in manual control and a decrease in the ability to crawl or walk normally; loss of communication and thinking skills, including the ability to speak, and loss of interest in people or toys; the development of abnormal hand movements or patterns such as twisting or squeezing the hands; unusual eye movements such as intense staring or blinking; breathing problems – including holding your breath or breathing rapidly which causes hyperventilation...... middle of paper ......rtant to educate everyone about the cultural language factors in dealing with this student. Educate other students, with permission from parents and the student. This can fill the gaps for this student simply by being accepted. In closing, I include this from the Rett Syndrome Research Trust because I couldn't say it better myself. “True communication is a two-way street. It is not a test and it is not a yes/no questioning. Nonverbal communicators require their listeners to be attentive to gestures, facial expression, body language, and even the look in someone's eyes. No child learns well-being by being defined by his deficits rather than his strengths. Give her the benefit of high expectations. Let her know that you believe in her and model this belief, so that others learn to relate to her genuine and respectful way” (RSRT, 2015).