Treacher Collins syndrome presents with different severities. That is, sometimes the syndrome is so mild that it is hard to tell if a child even has the syndrome. Other times, it can be quite severe. The following is a list of traits that a child may, or may not have.

• A narrow forehead.
• Eyes that tilts downward (called an "antimongoloid" slant).
• Pulled down lower eyelids (sometimes erroneously called a "coloboma").
• Absent eyelashes on the lower eyelids.
• Thin skin overlying absent cheekbones (orbital clefts with absent zygomas).
• Absent ears (microtia), or malformed ears.
• Cleft palate.
• Small lower jaw