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  • Down Syndrome
    Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder. According to WHO, incidence of Down Syndrome is estimated to be around 1 in 1,000 to 1 live births worldwide. Between 1979 and 2003, the number of babies born with Down syndrome increased by about 30%. The good news is that the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome increased dramatically from 10 years old in 1960 to 47 years in 2007.   
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 21 March 2016

Early intervention protocols are important for management of Down's syndrome in young children:

  • These children should receive standard childhood immunizations in the normal way but additional immunizations like seasonal influenza vaccines, may be advised each year, particularly for those with heart or respiratory problems. 
  • The most common early intervention protocols for babies with Down’s syndrome are physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. These should begin any time shortly after birth, and usually should continue until the child reaches age three.
  • Early intervention for infants and children with Down’s syndrome can make a major difference in realizing their potential abilities and in their quality of life.
  • Physical therapy focuses on motor development. It helps in head stabilization and also to come into sitting position, which are the usual milestones in the first four months of age for the normal child. Babies with Down’s syndrome will slowly achieve these milestones with exercises.
  • Speech and language therapy is a critical component of early intervention. Most of the babies may not speak until 3 years of age; therefore some training will help them in the development of speech. Training them to imitate some sounds like “peek-a-boo", having them listen to music, speech for longer periods so they become familiarized with sounds and helping them improve oral motor skills like using the tongue and lips to make sounds.
  • Occupational therapy can help with child’s ability to play with toys, opening and closing boxes, arranging boxes according to their sizes and colors, building blocks etc which will help in his overall development.

The goal of early intervention programs is to enhance and accelerate development by using his strengths to overcome his weakness.

Your support team: Whom to consult?
Your health care team may include:

  • Primary care pediatrician to coordinate and provide routine childhood care
  • Pediatric cardiologist
  • Pediatric gastroenterologist
  • Pediatric endocrinologist
  • Developmental pediatrician
  • Pediatric neurologist
  • Pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist
  • Pediatric eye doctor (ophthalmologist)
  • Audiologist
  • Physical therapist
  • Speech pathologist
  • Occupational therapist
     
Condition

Stories

  • I want her to lead life on her own terms
    By Preeti Arora, a mother of a child with Down's Syndrome My daughter Amber is all of 9 years now and she attends the Navjyoti Special School in Vasant Kunj, Delhi. When she was born under C-section and it dawned on us that she had Down's Syndrome, it was naturally devastating. The doctor simply termed my baby ‘abnormal’. My husband kept this information from me for about 4 days. This was our first child, I had a completely normal pregnancy, all my tests had been done…
  • Management of Down's Syndrome
    Early intervention protocols are important for management of Down's syndrome in young children: These children should receive standard childhood immunizations in the normal way but additional immunizations like seasonal influenza vaccines, may be advised each year, particularly for those with heart or respiratory problems.  The most common early intervention protocols for babies with Down’s syndrome are physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy. These should…
  • Down's Syndrome
    Down’s syndrome is also known as trisomy 21. It is a congenital disorder caused from a chromosomal abnormality appearing in about one of every 800 to 1 in 1000 births. This syndrome occurs when one chromosome has an extra “part” and an error occurs in cell division, or an extra chromosome exists, resulting in 47 chromosomes. (Chromosome is a thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.) Usually…
  • Diagnosis and Tests for Down's Syndrome
    Screening and diagnostic tests The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends offering the option of screening tests and diagnostic tests for Down’s syndrome to all pregnant women, regardless of age. Screening tests can indicate the likelihood a mother is carrying a baby with Down’s syndrome. Diagnostic tests can identify whether your baby has Down’s syndrome. Screening tests during pregnancy Screening for Down’s syndrome is offered as a routine part of prenatal care.…
  • Types and Complications of Down's Syndrome
    There are 3 types of Down's syndrome based on the causes of Down's Syndrome: - Trisomy21 - Mosaic Down's Syndrome - Translocation Down's Syndrome What are the complications of Down’s syndrome? It is common for babies born with Down’s syndrome to have some health problems. Most of these problems can be treated. Problems of the heart, lungs and thyroid gland are common. Eyesight problems (crossed eyes, near- or far-sightedness, cataract) hearing loss, obstructed digestive tracts, sleep apnea and…
  • Signs and Symptoms of Down's Syndrome
    Signs of Down's Syndrome: Although all babies with Down's syndrome will not have the same features, they will have have some of these physical features: •    Almond shaped eyes (unusual for their ethnic group) •    Smaller head and hands •    Flat nose   •    Wide feet with short toes •    Large tongue  •    Poor muscle tone (appear to be floppy) •    Short neck  • …
  • Causes of Down's Syndrome and Risk Factors
    Down’s syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division. All people with Down’s syndrome have an extra, critical portion of chromosome 21 present in all or some of their cells. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with the syndrome.  Trisomy 21 - About 95 percent of the time, Down syndrome is caused by trisomy 21. Mosaic Down syndrome - In this form children have some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21.…
  • Down's syndrome Prevention
    You can do nothing to prevent Down's syndrome. If you already have a child with Down's syndrome, you are definitely at high risk of having another child with Down syndrome. You may want to consult your gynaecologist or genetic counselor before becoming pregnant again.  Your gynaecologist or a genetic counselor can help you understand your chances of having a child with Down syndrome. He or she can also explain the prenatal tests that are available and help explain the pros and cons of…
  • Treatment for Down's Syndrome
    Treatment While there is no cure or treatment for Down’s syndrome, it is important to follow early intervention protocols to manage the development challenges. It is a disorder that a person will have all of his or her life. Down’s syndrome is not contagious, and it affects all races and nationalities. No one can “get” Down syndrome later in life. Doctors cannot pinpoint why this extra or altered chromosome problem happens, but they know that it is not the result of what the mother or father…
  • The Importance of Early Intervention
    If your child is behind on the developmental milestones, it is important to act as early as possible. Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, a Special Educator and Rehabilitation specialist, tells you why and what it involves. Human learning and development is most rapid in the preschool years. This is the time of ‘Maximum Readiness’ and is very important, especially if the child has a delay in development/a disability/high risk of attaining a delay or disability. If the ‘most…