Down Syndrome
genetic disorder
Description and Causes
In Down Syndrome, the person has physical growth delays and characteristic growth delays. People with Down Syndrome have mild to moderate intellectual disabilitys. Down Syndrome is caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Other causes are that you are older when you are pregnant, you have a sibling who has down Syndrome, or you had another baby with Down Syndrome.
chromosomes
There is a third copy of chromosome 21.
Little girl with Down Syndrome
Most children have the same facial characteristics
Down Syndrome
characteristics of down syndrome
Long term effects from the disorder
People with Down Syndrome nearly always have physical and intellectual disabilities. Adults with Down Syndrome often have the mental abilities of an eight or nine year old. Some after thirty years of age may lose their ability to speak. Also, children with Down Syndrome have birth defects and eye problems: cataracts. Most children need glasses. They also have Dementia, hearing problems(thay get regular ear infections), and sleep apnea.
Treatments for Down Syndrome
There is no single treatment. However, people may recieve care from a team of health proffesionals, physicians, special educators, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. Reasearch indicates that special programs and resources provided at a very young age improves outcomes for children.