Damage to the protective myelin covering the nerves results in progressive worsening of brain and nervous system functions, including:  Loss of the ability to detect sensations, such as touch, pain, heat and sound Loss of intellectual, thinking and memory skills Loss of motor skills, such as walking, moving, speaking and swallowing Stiff, rigid muscles, poor muscle function and paralysis Loss of bladder and bowel function Gallbladder problems Blindness Hearing loss Seizures Emotional and behavioral problems, including unstable emotions and substance misuse  Each form of metachromatic leukodystrophy occurs at a different age and can have different initial signs and symptoms and rates of progression:  Late infantile form. This is the most common form of metachromatic leukodystrophy, starting around 2 years of age or younger. Progressive loss of speech and muscle function occurs rapidly. Children with this form often do not survive beyond childhood. Juvenile form. This is the second most common form and starts in children between 3 and 16 years of age. Early signs are behavior and cognitive problems and increasing difficulty in school. Loss of the ability to walk may occur. Although the juvenile form doesn't progress as fast as the late infantile form, survival is generally less than 20 years after symptoms begin. Adult form. This form is less common and typically starts after age 16. Signs progress slowly and may begin with behavior and psychiatric problems, drug and alcohol misuse, and issues with school and work. Psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations may occur. The course of this form varies, with periods of stable symptoms and periods of rapid decline in functioning. Adults may survive for several decades after initial symptoms. 
damage protective myelin covering nerves results progressive worsening brain nervous system functions  including:  loss ability detect sensations  touch  pain  heat sound loss intellectual  thinking memory skills loss motor skills  walking  moving  speaking swallowing stiff  rigid muscles  poor muscle function paralysis loss bladder bowel function gallbladder problems blindness hearing loss seizures emotional behavioral problems  including unstable emotions substance misuse  form metachromatic leukodystrophy occurs age can initial signs symptoms rates progression:  late infantile form  common form metachromatic leukodystrophy  starting 2 years age younger  progressive loss speech muscle function occurs rapidly  children form survive childhood  juvenile form  second common form starts children 3 16 years age  early signs behavior cognitive problems increasing difficulty school  loss ability walk may occur  juvenile form doesn't progress fast late infantile form  survival generally 20 years symptoms begin  adult form  form common typically starts age 16  signs progress slowly may begin behavior psychiatric problems  drug alcohol misuse  issues school work  psychotic symptoms delusions hallucinations may occur  course form varies  periods stable symptoms periods rapid decline functioning  adults may survive decades initial symptoms
metachromatic leukodystrophy