Social anxiety in Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Richards et al. (2009) watched children with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) during everyday activities. They timed anxiety signs right after the child made eye contact or spoke. A control group with a different genetic syndrome (CdCS) was used for comparison. The study used a case-series design, so each child served as their own baseline.

Anxiety jumped immediately after social moments in CdLS. Eye contact and talking were the main triggers. The same spike did not happen in the CdCS controls. The pattern was strong enough to show up in a small group.

Emerson et al. (2007) first listed anxiety as part of the CdLS profile. Caroline et al. zoom in to show the exact seconds when that anxiety fires. Sarimski (2007) warned that low infant eye-contact predicts later social trouble; the 2009 paper explains why—eye contact itself is stressful. Repp et al. (1992) showed some kids act out when adults look at them too much. The CdLS data echo that social-avoidance theme, but without any experimental prompts—just natural play.

If you work with CdLS, lighten the social load right after the child speaks or looks at you. Give a brief pause, offer a toy, or switch to a solo task. This tiny timing shift can cut the anxiety spike and keep the child available for learning. The same moment is prime time to reinforce any calm behavior you see.