Some of the common medical issues as outlined by the Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome include “congenital cardiac and gastrointestinal anomalies, autoimmune conditions, diverse leukemias, respiratory infections, sleep disorders, hearing and vision loss and early development of Alzheimer's-type dementia.”
Symptoms associated with the syndrome include mental retardation, distinctive facial characteristics, and increased risk for heart defects and digestive problems, which can range from mild to severe. The risk of having a child with Down syndrome rises with the mother's age at the time of conception.
People with Down syndrome are at increased risk for a range of other health conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, problems with hormones and glands, hearing loss, vision problems, and heart abnormalities.
Autism and Down syndrome are separate conditions, but it's possible for a person to have both. If you're reading this, you might know someone with Down syndrome or someone who's autistic. You may even know someone with a dual diagnosis of both.
They often have mild to moderate intellectual disability and may have specific challenges with attention span, verbal memory, and expressive communication. Behavioral problems such as stubbornness, impulsivity, and temper tantrums may be more common in children with Down syndrome.
Some of the common medical issues as outlined by the Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome include “congenital cardiac and gastrointestinal anomalies, autoimmune conditions, diverse leukemias, respiratory infections, sleep disorders, hearing and vision loss and early development of Alzheimer's-type dementia.”
Potentially serious complications — The most serious complications of Down syndrome include heart defects, blood disorders that can include leukemia (cancer of the blood), and immune system problems. Heart defects — Approximately half of all babies with Down syndrome are born with (often repairable) heart defects.
1 in 3 children with down syndrome has behavior problems that are serious enough to be diagnosed by a professional. even more children with down syndrome have behavior problems that might not be diagnosed, but still cause problems for kids and their families.
It is a common birth defect, the most frequent and recognizable form of intellectual disabilities (ID), appearing in about one out of every 700 newborns. The average intelligence quotient (IQ) of children with DS is around 50, ranging between 30 and 70.
Toddlers and older kids may have delays in speech and self-care skills like feeding, dressing, and using the toilet. Down syndrome affects kids' ability to learn in different ways, and most have mild to moderate intellectual disability. Kids can and do learn, and they can develop skills throughout their lives.
Most kids with Down syndrome will live a normal life
They will need extra help to speak well, get a job, find somewhere to live and have relationships, but achieving these 'normal' things is entirely possible in a supportive, inclusive community.
Many publications have reported abnormalities of the immune system in people with Down's Syndrome, particularly with respect to immunodeficiency and to autoimmunity.
Pulmonary infectious disease is the leading cause of mortality in Down syndrome, caused by both intrinsic (morphological factors) and extrinsic (immune dysfunction) factors. Listed in each organ cartoon are genes implicated in disturbed heart, lung and immune function.
The severity of developmental delay varies in children with Down syndrome. A child with Down syndrome will eventually reach the same growth milestones as other children, however, he or she may be slower to turn over, sit, stand, walk, and do other physical activities.
As adults with Down syndrome grow older, there is increased risk of experiencing certain common mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and behavioral disturbances. A sudden or abrupt change in mood or behavior patterns warrants further investigation.
Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels. The risk increases with the mother's age (1 in 1250 for a 25 year old mother to 1 in 1000 at age 31, 1 in 400 at age 35, and about 1 in 100 at age 40). However, 80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to women under age 35 years.
An atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) occurs when there are holes between the right and left sides of the heart, and the valves that control the blood flow between the two sides may not be formed correctly. AVSD is the most common congenital heart condition in children with Down syndrome.
Those with Down syndrome nearly always have physical and intellectual disabilities. As adults, their mental abilities are typically similar to those of an 8- or 9-year-old. At the same time, their emotional and social awareness is very high.
Today the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome is approximately 60 years. As recently as 1983, the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome was 25 years. The dramatic increase to 60 years is largely due to the end of the inhumane practice of institutionalizing people with Down syndrome.
Can adults with Down's syndrome have children; and if so, what is the chance of their children having the condition? Yes. A woman with Down's syndrome can have children. If her partner does not have Down's syndrome, the theoretical chance of the child having Down's syndrome is 50%.
Trying to make them feel better with words like these might be appreciated by some parents and not by others. It is best to avoid this. “They're such loving children.” This is a stereotype of people with Down syndrome and a statement like this demonstrates that you really don't know much about Down syndrome.