How to Pronounce Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Pronunciation
FEE-lan mac-DER-mid SIN-drohm
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
FEE
stress here
lan mac
DER
stress here
mid SIN
drohm
5 syllables
What is Phelan-McDermid Syndrome?
A rare chromosomal condition caused by deletion of the terminal portion of chromosome 22q13.3, resulting in intellectual disability, absence or delay of speech, autism spectrum features, hypotonia, and minor dysmorphic features.
Questions About Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
How do you pronounce Phelan-McDermid Syndrome?
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Say it like this: FEE-lan mac-DER-mid SIN-drohm. The first part rhymes with "feel," the second part sounds like "Mac" (as in a name) plus "DER" (like the word "der"), and the last part is "SIN" (like the word "sin") plus "drohm" (rhymes with "home").
Which syllable is stressed when you say Phelan-McDermid Syndrome?
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The stress falls on the first syllable of the whole phrase: FEE-lan. Say it a bit louder and longer than the other parts. A common mistake is stressing "DER" instead, but the emphasis really belongs on that opening "FEE" sound.
How do you break Phelan-McDermid Syndrome into syllables?
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Break it like this: FEE-lan / mac-DER-mid / SIN-drohm. That's 6 syllables total. You can also think of it as two words joined together: the person's name (Phelan-McDermid) plus the word "Syndrome."
What does 'syndrome' mean in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome?
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The word "syndrome" means a group of signs or features that happen together. So Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is named after the doctors Phelan and McDermid and describes a specific set of characteristics that occur together. It's a useful way to name a condition after the people who discovered it.
Is there a shorter way to say Phelan-McDermid Syndrome?
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Yes, it's often shortened to PMS, though that abbreviation can be confusing because it stands for something else too. You might also hear it called just "22q13 deletion" (twenty-two cue thirteen deletion) since that refers to the specific part of the chromosome involved. In medical settings, people sometimes say "PMS" out loud as "P-M-S."
What does the '22q13.3' part mean in the medical name for this condition?
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The "22" refers to chromosome number 22 (humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes). The "q" is a letter used in genetics to describe a part of the chromosome. And "13.3" pinpoints an exact location on that chromosome, like an address. So "22q13.3" tells you exactly where on the chromosome the condition is found.
Can you use Phelan-McDermid Syndrome in a sentence?
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Sure! Here's an example: "The genetics counselor explained that Phelan-McDermid Syndrome affects a specific region on chromosome 22." Or: "Understanding how to pronounce Phelan-McDermid Syndrome correctly helped the student communicate better with doctors and specialists."
What's the difference between saying 'Phelan' and 'Felan'?
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Good question! It's "FEE-lan," not "FEL-an." The 'ph' makes the "FEE" sound (like in "phone" or "photo"), not the "FEH" sound. This is a common pattern in medical words where 'ph' sounds like the letter 'f'.