Colin Farrell has opened up about his son’s rare disorder. James, who is now 20-years-old, was diagnosed with a neurogenetic disorder called Angelman syndrome as a child
In an interview with People, Colin said that he “thought [he’d] hit the lottery” with James when he was a baby because he was “so chill” and rarely cried.
But he explained how James failed to reach certain milestones and development goals as he grew up – such as crawling and walking.
The Batman actor said: “I think he was a year and a half old when he was diagnosed. We took him to get really checked out and, because of certain things that he was displaying, he was disagnosed as having cerebal palsy.”
He said this was, at the time, a common misdiagnosis due to similarities between the two conditions.
It took another year before a second doctor noticed something seemingly innocent that pointed towards Angelman syndrome, Colin recalled.
“One of the characteristics of Angelman syndrome is inappropriate outbreaks of laughter. The doctor saw this with James,” he said.
The NHS describes Angelman syndrome as a rare genetic disorder that impacts the nervous system, leading to significant physical and learning challenges. Individuals with Angelman syndrome typically have a life expectancy close to normal, but they will require ongoing support throughout their lives.
There are several unique behaviors linked to Angelman syndrome, though not every child with the condition will exhibit all of them. These behaviors include:
- frequent laughter and smiling, often with little stimulus
- being easily excitable, often flapping the hands
- being restless (hyperactive)
- having a short attention span
- trouble sleeping and needing less sleep than other children
- a particular fascination with water
In most cases of Angelman syndrome, the child’s parents do not have the condition and the genetic difference responsible for the syndrome happens by chance around the time of conception. AngelmanUK is a charity providing information and support for parents and carers of people with Angelman syndrome.
You can call their helpline (0300 999 0102) to speak with parents of people with Angelman syndrome, who can offer you advice and support.