Signs vary from person to person. Young children and babies lack movement and have a difficult time eating and breathing. For young children not diagnosed immediately at birth, these are usually the first visible symptoms. One sign is a swollen face in disproportional areas. Other examples in newborns include swaying and a difficulty in moving. Other symptoms include feeble muscles in the neck and upper rib cage area. In adults, the most common symptom is respiratory problems. Other symptoms in adults could range from mild to severe speech impediments. It is common to be diagnosed with scoliosis in relations to<unk> . As babies that have<unk>  develop and become of age when they should start walking, many take longer than average due to the lack of muscle, or just muscle fatigue. Since facial muscles are involved in<unk>  takeover, elongated faces and a lower mandible are often observed in people with<unk> . People affected by<unk>  usually will begin to feel muscle exhaustion between ages 20–50.<unk>  is usually not progressive. Gastroesophageal reflux, although not common, is associated with<unk> . Heart abnormalities can occur as a result of<unk> , but the likelihood of that happening are not high. Mobility and orthopedics Most children with mild<unk>  eventually walk independently, although often at a later age than their peers. Some use wheelchairs or other devices, such as walkers or braces, to enhance their mobility. Individuals with severe<unk>  generally have limited limb movement and use wheelchairs full-time. Due to weakness in the trunk muscles, people with<unk>  are prone to scoliosis, which usually develops in childhood and worsens during puberty. Many individuals with<unk>  undergo spinal fusion surgery to straighten and stabilize their backs. Although patients early on often have mobility in their joints that is past the normal range, as they age, joint deformities and scoliosis usually occur. If the person with<unk>  keeps an eye on his or her joints early on, the problems with them can be detected when they begin and their progression can be delayed. Treatment of joint problems ranges from stretching exercises with physical therapy to surgical introduction of braces. The benefits of exercise in people with<unk>  are still being studied, however, researchers have seen improvements in muscle function from low-intensity exercise. Vigorous exercise and the use of heavy weights should be avoided. Respiratory involvement Attention to respiratory issues is critical to the health of many people with<unk> . Infants with severe<unk>  frequently experience respiratory distress at or soon after birth, although this is only found in the rarest forms. Though respiratory compromise may not be immediately apparent in people with intermediate or mild<unk> , it often, but not always, exists to some extent. As in many neuromuscular disorders, hypoventilation can begin insidiously, and it may cause serious health problems if not remedied by the use of noninvasive mechanical devices to assist breathing, particularly at night. Communication and eating Bulbar (throat) muscle weakness is a main feature of<unk> . Individuals with the most severe forms of<unk>  are unable to swallow and receive their nutrition through feeding tubes. Most people with intermediate and mild<unk>  take some or all of their nutrition orally. Bulbar muscle impairment may also lead to difficulty with communication. People with<unk>  often have hypernasal speech as a result of poor closure of the velopharyngeal port (between the soft palate and the back of the throat). This may be able to be surgically corrected. Communicative skills may be enhanced through speech therapy, oral prosthetic devices, surgery, and augmentative communication devices.<unk>  does not have any impact on cognition or intelligence. Physical characteristics and effects Physical expression of<unk>  varies greatly, but weakness is usually concentrated in the proximal muscles, particularly respiratory, bulbar and trunk muscles. People with severe<unk>  show obvious symptoms at birth, while those with intermediate or mild<unk>  may initially appear unaffected. Babies with<unk>  are frequently observed to be "floppy" and hypotonic. Children born with<unk>  often gain strength as they grow, though the effect of muscle weakness on body features may become more evident with time. Adults with<unk>  typically have a very slender physique.
Nemaline myopathy
Brody myopathy
Centronuclear myopathy
Bethlem myopathy
Muscular dystrophy
Metabolic myopathy
Inflammatory myopathy
Hereditary inclusion body myopathy