Medical support
a speech and language therapist
– for help with speaking. a physiotherapist – for help walking if they have low muscle tone. an optician or hearing specialist – for help with vision and hearing. an occupational therapist – for help with their development.
What types of support groups are out there to support people with Down syndrome?
There are four national Down syndrome organizations in the United States:
Global Down Syndrome Foundation
, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Down Syndrome Society, and Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action.
Social worker: People with Down’s syndrome may need help
in overcoming some social problems
, such as finding accommodation or applying for financial benefits. A social worker will help them to do this, allowing them to live more independently.
How do you interact with someone with Down syndrome?
Always speak directly with the person with Down syndrome
, not the person with them. Give them time to respond. Take their lead on what support they need to communicate. Know that every person with Down syndrome is unique, with their individual personality, strengths and support needs.
How can families help a child with Down syndrome?
One of the best ways to meet other parents is to get involved in
a local Down syndrome parent support group
. These groups can provide you with an excellent forum for sharing your feelings and concerns as a new parent, and an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others who have been in your shoes.
How can I help the Down syndrome community?
Partner services and programs may include: new parent support and education, family meetings, sibling and grandparent support, recreational activities, lending libraries, helplines, regional conferences, partnerships with Down Syndrome Clinics, training for medical professionals and educators, Advocacy and Buddy Walk® …
Do people with Down syndrome need special equipment?
These devices can be anything from
hearing aids
, pencil/pen grips, seat cushions and walking aids to large-button mobile phones and large-letter keyboards. Touchscreen tablets and computers are useful for children with Down Syndrome who struggle with performing fine motor movements.
How do you empower someone with Down syndrome?
Include adults with Down syndrome in conversations about their future. Utilize tools that shift responsibility to them as much as possible, like cellphone reminders, visual cues, wall calendars, and daily to-do lists. Incorporate
peer
supports and mentors. No one likes to be told what to do by parents all the time!
How do you show respect to someone with Down syndrome?
Use people first language; say that someone is a “person with Down syndrome,” “has Down syndrome” or “is living with Down syndrome.” Do not say “Down person” or that a person “suffers from” or is “afflicted with” Down syndrome.
How does Down syndrome affect communication?
The most common communication problems for adults with Down syndrome are that their
speech may be difficult to understand
(speech intelligibility) and that they have difficulty with long conversations, with telling about what happened to them or retelling a story, and with asking for specific clarifications when they …
What local resources are available for someone with Down syndrome?
- KidsHealth.Org. …
- PubMed Health. …
- WebMD. …
- National Down Syndrome Society. …
- National Down Syndrome Congress. …
- Down Syndrome International. …
- The International Down Syndrome Coalition. …
- Band Of Angels.
What are the treatments and therapies for Down syndrome?
There is no medical cure for Down syndrome, however, children with Down syndrome benefit from early access to medical care and developmental interventions beginning in infancy. Beneficial therapies for Down syndrome include
physical, occupational, behavioral, and speech therapy
.
How do you congratulate a child with Down syndrome parents?
- “Congratulations.” They just had a baby! …
- “He/She looks just like you.” The baby probably does look like someone in the family. …
- Tell them what you have learned from the RMDSA website and share the resources you’ve identified.
Does speech therapy help Down syndrome?
A child with Down’s Syndrome may be able to understand more than they are able to express. Our Speech and Language Therapists can help to
increase their ability to express what they are feeling by increasing their vocabulary and developing a language programme
that works on their expressive language and syntax skills.
How do you motivate a student with Down syndrome?
- First, always speak directly to the student, using clear, receptive language and short sentences.
- Place a strong emphasis on visual learning when teaching reading to students with Down syndrome. Think visual demonstrations, pictures, and illustrations.
Why do Down’s syndrome talk to themselves?
Additionally, we have found that many adults with Down syndrome rely on self-talk to vent feelings such as sadness or frustration. They think out loud in order to process daily life events. This is because their
speech or cognitive impairments inhibit communication
.
What is self-talk in Down syndrome?
Parents of children and adults with Down syndrome have observed many of them engage in self-talk or ‘private speech’. They may use self-talk
to work out situations, express inner feelings, and entertain themselves
. Some reports have stressed that this behavior is not a delusion or hallucination.
Do people with Down syndrome have photographic memory?
Most people with Down syndrome have an amazing memory for people, places and past events. This can often be described as
“photographic memory
.” Children may make lists of facts they are interested in such as favorite movie actors or songs. Children also may easily remember where things are or places they have visited.
Why should we respect people with Down syndrome?
Individuals with Down syndrome need to be viewed as just that—individuals. They want and deserve to be and
feel valued
just like everyone else. They want and have the ability to make valuable contributions to the community despite their challenges.
At what age does a child with Down syndrome talk?
Generally, children with Down syndrome have verbally expressed their first words
between ages one and four
. They’ve connected two words to make a phrase between the ages of two and seven-and-a-half.
How do you interact with nonverbal Down syndrome?
Good early communication skills – Most children with Down syndrome are eager to communicate and their early non-verbal communication skills are good. These include
making eye-contact
, taking turns in babble games, developing joint attention, and using gestures.
What should you not tell a parent of a Down syndrome child?
- Nothing. …
- “You only get given what you can handle.” …
- “He/she is God’s gift.” …
- “I could never handle what you handle.” …
- The “R” word. …
- “Did you get genetic testing?” …
- ‘ …
- “Everything happens for a reason.”
What are the 3 types of Down syndrome?
- Trisomy 21. This is by far the most common type, where every cell in the body has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two.
- Translocation Down syndrome. In this type, each cell has part of an extra chromosome 21, or an entirely extra one. …
- Mosaic Down syndrome.
Why do people with Downs have the same face?
Why do people with Down syndrome look the same?
They have an extra chromosome or part of an extra chromosome
. Researchers believe that this extra genetic material affects growth of the maxilla (part of the skull) and the bone, cartilage, and connective tissue in the head, known as the cranial neural crest.
How can an occupational therapist help someone with Down syndrome?
Occupational Therapists can help individuals with Downsyndrome
by breaking down tasks into smaller steps
, and then teaching them how to complete each step by step task. Occupational therapists can also provide appropriate aids and adaptations to assist with the completion of skills.
Are there ways to prevent Down syndrome?
Prevention
.
There’s no way to prevent Down syndrome
. If you’re at high risk of having a child with Down syndrome or you already have one child with Down syndrome, you may want to consult a genetic counselor before becoming pregnant.
How can physiotherapy help Down syndrome?
Physiotherapy can help children with Down’s syndrome
avoid developing of compensatory patterns of abnormal movements
. These problems can be avoided by the physiotherapists teaching your child the optimal movement patterns so that they can strengthen the appropriate muscles.
