Cognitive strengths among males with fragile X include

• verbal labelling and single word vocabulary
• receptive (listening) vocabulary may be higher than expressive (speaking).
• vocabulary for subjects of interest may also be higher than would be expected based upon overall scores.
• visual matching and visual perception tasks with meaningful information (e.g. puzzles with a known picture, as opposed to abstract block designs) are often strengths.
• Visual cueing is often a powerful learning strategy for boys with fragile X, and whole images, such as pictures, logos, or words can often be recognized well.
• memory for situations and for favourite TV shows, videos, and songs is excellent in many boys.
• boys and men with fragile X are often wonderful mimics, memorizing tone as well as words. Success with memory tasks seems to be strongly influenced by the meaningfulness and complexity of information presented.
• good abilities to learn self-care and household management skills,

Weaknesses could include

• higher level thinking and reasoning skills. 
• complex problem solving
• cause and effect questions, and other abstract tasks are often areas of deficit.
• visual-motor and visual construction tasks with abstract items (such as bead sequencing and block designs)
• quantitative skills are also often a weakness for both males and females with fragile X. 
• Arithmetic abilities may be weaknesses because of visual-spatial problems and poor concepts of quantity and number.
• socialisation and communication items

Impact on males

• The majority of males with fragile X syndrome will have significant learning difficulties.
• The spectrum ranges from learning disabilities to severe mental retardation and autism.
• 80% of males have learning difficulties. In addition, males have a variety of physical and behavioural characteristics.
• However, no male has all of these characteristics.

Impact on females

• Characteristics found in males can be found in females, however generally to a lesser degree.
• 30% of females have significant learning disabilities; however 70% of females are less effected

• attention deficit disorders
• speech disturbances
• hand biting
• hand flapping
• autistic behaviours
• poor eye contact
• unusual responses to various touch, auditory or visual stimuli. 

• enlarged ears
• long face with prominent chin
• large testicles (in post pubertal males) are common.
• connective tissue problems may include ear infections, mitral valve prolapse, flat feet, double-jointed fingers, hyperflexible joints and a variety of skeletal problems. 

• A change or mutation in a gene on the X chromosome causes the fragile X syndrome.
• Most individuals have 46 chromosomes, two of which are sex chromosomes.
• In females, these are two X's; in males they are and X and Y.
• The gene responsible for fragile X syndrome is called the FMR1 gene.
• Normally, the FMR1 gene produces an important protein called FMRP.
• When the gene is turned off, the individual does not make the protein.
• The lack of this specific protein causes fragile X syndrome.