Down syndrome is often associated with people who are particularly happy, sociable, and outgoing. This may be true in general, but it's important to avoid stereotypes, even with such positive characteristics and impressions.
Characteristics of Down syndrome
Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual. Often students will have strong empathy with others, good social skills, good short-term memory and visual learning skills. Sarah answers some questions about what it's like to have Down syndrome.
On the other hand, many children with Down syndrome have strong social skills. Even as infants, many use non-verbal communication to connect with others. They are often strong visual learners, understanding information best when they can see it, either through pictures, objects, or demonstration.
A number of developmental researchers have identified that children with Down syndrome have a strength in early social development, particularly being interested in, relating to and interacting with people.
Down syndrome is usually identified at birth by the presence of certain physical traits: low muscle tone, a single deep crease across the palm of the hand, a slightly flattened facial profile, and an upward slant to the eyes.
Most individuals with Down syndrome have mild (IQ: 50–69) or moderate (IQ: 35–50) intellectual disability with some cases having severe (IQ: 20–35) difficulties. Those with mosaic Down syndrome typically have IQ scores 10–30 points higher than that.
Yes, individuals with Down syndrome can drink. However, it is important to be mindful of the potential effects of alcohol on individuals with Down syndrome, as they may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of alcohol compared to typically developing individuals.
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.
Individuals with Down syndrome also show impaired explicit long-term memory for verbal information, and may also have particular problems in explicit long-term memory for visual-object associations.
What Can I Expect for my Child's Future? Children with Down syndrome grow and develop more slowly than other children. They may have learning issues and may be slower to hit milestones like talking and walking. Despite their challenges, however, kids with Down syndrome can have rich and happy lives.
The most common mental health concerns in individuals with Down syndrome include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, oppositional behaviors, depression, and tic disorder.
Down syndrome symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. No matter how severe the condition is, people with Down syndrome have a widely-recognized appearance. The head may be smaller than normal and abnormally shaped.
People of all ages with Down syndrome can and do enjoy a variety of relationships with family members, friends, acquaintances, community members, and even sweethearts and spouses.
Yes, every person with Down syndrome has some degree of intellectual disability — but their personalities are as individual as any person in the wider community. People with Down syndrome can feel angry, sad, embarrassed or excited.
The extra chromosome comes from either the mother or the father. It makes no difference to the person with Down's syndrome which parent the extra chromosome came from.
Some people with Down syndrome marry. Most men with Down syndrome cannot father a child. In any pregnancy, a woman with Down syndrome has a 1 in 2 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome. Many of the pregnancies are miscarried.
Throughout childhood and into adulthood, it is important to maintain a heart healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, fiber, and water while limiting processed foods, sweets, and sugary beverages. Adults with Down syndrome are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease that can be prevented with diet.
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.
Children and adolescents with Down syndrome may face challenges when toilet training due to their fine motor skills, gross motor skills and cognitive development, as well as their ability to identify and communicate their need to void.
Currently, Ireland tops the countries with the highest rate of Down syndrome prevalence, as its incidence of the syndrome is reported to be 27.5 per 10,000 live births.
People with Down syndrome usually have an IQ (a measure of intelligence) in the mildly-to-moderately low range and are slower to speak than other children. Some common physical features of Down syndrome include: A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose. Almond-shaped eyes that slant up.
Personal experiences and some difficult issues
Some of the children with Mosaic Down syndrome that we know do not actually look as if they have Down syndrome - the usual physical features are not obvious.
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.