moebius syndrome

A rare disorder caused when cranial nerves are absent or not fully developed. The symptoms of the disorder includes the lack of facial expression, absence of lateral eye movement, speech difficulties, hearing problems, feeding and swallowing problems, and physical problems in other parts of the body. People with this disorder cannot smile, frown, or blink, thus remaining expressionless as if wearing a mask.

Parents of a child born with Moebius syndrome may see that the child’s face does not move when he or she cries.