{"h1":"How Rett Syndrome Affects Motor Development","faq":[{"a":"Rett Syndrome characteristically involves a regression phase, often between 6 and 18 months, where skills like hand use, crawling or babble that were already gained begin to slow or fade. This is part of the condition's pattern, not something you have done — and prompt assessment helps protect remaining function.","q":"Why does my daughter seem to lose skills she once had?"},{"a":"It varies. Some girls with Rett Syndrome walk independently, others walk with an unsteady, wide-based gait, and some need support or do not walk. Physiotherapy and early support can help maintain mobility, balance and posture for as long as possible.","q":"Will my daughter be able to walk?"},{"a":"Repetitive midline hand movements — wringing, clapping, tapping or mouthing — are a hallmark of Rett Syndrome and replace purposeful hand use. Occupational therapy works to preserve any functional grasp and to open up other ways for her to interact, such as eye-gaze communication.","q":"Why are her hands always moving?"},{"a":"Many girls understand and feel far more than their bodies can show — intent often outstrips physical ability. That is why supporting communication through eye gaze and assistive tools, alongside movement, is so important.","q":"Does Rett Syndrome affect understanding too, or just movement?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-motor-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects Motor Development","entity":{"key":"rett","kind":"condition_x_domain","name":"Rett Syndrome","slug":"rett-syndrome"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Motor","value":"motor"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Influence","value":"influence"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Special-Education","value":"special-education"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":null,"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 2-Year-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-adaptive-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects Adaptive Development"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-cognitive-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome affects a child's cognitive development"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-rett-syndrome-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Rett Syndrome, and what does it look like in early childhood?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-rett-syndrome-diagnosed-in-a-child","title":"How is Rett Syndrome diagnosed in a child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome"}],"summary":"Rett Syndrome typically affects motor development after a period of fairly typical early growth: between roughly 6–18 months, skills slow and regress. A hallmark is loss of purposeful hand use, replaced by repetitive hand movements, alongside delays in sitting, crawling, walking, balance and tone, with scoliosis common over time. Understanding often exceeds physical ability, so movement and eye-gaze communication are supported together. Any loss of previously gained skills warrants prompt paediatric and developmental review.","answer_md":"*If your daughter learned to wave, babble or grasp — and then, heartbreakingly, those skills began to slip away — you are not imagining it, and you are not alone.*\n\n## In short\nRett Syndrome affects motor development in a very distinctive way: most children develop fairly typically in their first **6 to 18 months**, then enter a period where hard-won skills — like reaching, grasping and crawling — slow down and may regress. A hallmark is the loss of purposeful hand use, often replaced by repetitive hand movements such as wringing, clapping or mouthing. Walking, balance and coordination are commonly affected too, though many girls retain a great deal of connection, joy and ability with the right support. Rett Syndrome is a genetic condition (most often linked to the *MECP2* gene) and is confirmed through clinical and genetic assessment — therapy then focuses on preserving function, comfort and communication.\n\n## How motor development is affected\nRett Syndrome touches movement across the whole body, and the pattern tends to unfold in stages:\n\n- **Loss of purposeful hand skills** — perhaps the most recognised feature. A child who once picked up toys may gradually lose that fine-motor control, with hands becoming busy in repetitive midline movements (wringing, tapping, mouthing).\n- **Gross-motor changes** — sitting, crawling and walking may be delayed, slow to progress, or partly lost. Some girls walk with an unsteady, wide-based gait; others may not walk independently.\n- **Tone and coordination** — muscle tone can be unusually low early on and stiffer later; apraxia (difficulty getting the body to do what the brain intends) makes initiating any movement effortful.\n- **Posture and spine** — scoliosis (curving of the spine) is common as children grow and needs regular monitoring.\n- **Periods of change** — there is often a regression phase, then a more stable plateau where skills can be gently maintained and even rebuilt in small ways.\n\nImportantly, *intent and understanding often far outstrip what the body can show.* Many girls communicate richly through eye gaze and expression even when hands and speech are affected — which is why supporting movement and communication together matters so much.\n\n## When to seek help promptly\nBecause Rett Syndrome involves *regression* — the loss of previously gained skills — any time a child stops doing things she could do before (losing hand use, babble, social engagement, or steadiness on her feet) is a reason to seek a prompt paediatric and developmental review. Early genetic and clinical assessment brings clarity, and early therapy helps protect movement, prevent complications like contractures and scoliosis, and keep communication open.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nDevelopmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care — never from an online form or an app. For a child with Rett Syndrome our therapists work as one team to preserve hand function, support posture and walking, manage tone, and build powerful eye-gaze and assistive communication so your daughter stays connected. Learn more [about Rett Syndrome](/rett-syndrome), explore how [occupational and physiotherapy support movement and daily skills](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate), and understand your child's starting point with the [AbilityScore](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 classification of developmental conditions (icd.who.int); American Academy of Pediatrics developmental and regression guidance (healthychildren.org); CDC developmental-milestone resources (cdc.gov) on recognising loss of skills.\n\n**Next step —** If your daughter has lost skills she once had, especially hand use or steadiness, [book a developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) for clarity and a gentle, practical plan.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-motor-development","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-motor-development","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[],"meta_title":"Rett Syndrome & Motor Development Explained","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Support hand use gently with chunky, easy-to-reach toys placed at the midline, and give your daughter plenty of time and quiet to attempt a movement — rushing increases the apraxia struggle. Talk to her warmly and watch her eyes; eye gaze is often her strongest, clearest way to tell you what she wants.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:22:00.192177+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-rett-syndrome-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Rett Syndrome, and what does it look like in early childhood?","reason":"Linked from this answer"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":1},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-rett-syndrome-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 2-Year-Old","reason":"Linked from this answer"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":2},{"key":"causes","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-adaptive-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects Adaptive Development","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-cognitive-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome affects a child's cognitive development","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-communication-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects Communication Development","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-emotional-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects a Child's Emotional Development","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-sensory-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects Sensory Development","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-rett-syndrome-affect-a-child-s-social-development","title":"How Rett Syndrome Affects a Child's Social Development","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & influences","total":6},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-rett-syndrome-diagnosed-in-a-child","title":"How is Rett Syndrome diagnosed in a child?","reason":"Linked from this answer"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":1}],"what_to_watch":"Watch for loss of previously gained skills: a child who stops using her hands purposefully, develops repetitive hand-wringing or mouthing, or loses steadiness, crawling or walking she once had. Also note unusual muscle tone, an unsteady wide-based gait, or signs of a curving spine as she grows.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int","label":"WHO ICD-11 classification of developmental conditions"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP guidance on development and skill regression"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov","label":"CDC developmental milestone resources"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:22:00.192177+00:00","meta_description":"How Rett Syndrome affects a child's movement — hand use, walking, tone and balance — plus when to seek help and how therapy can support your daughter.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}