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People Down Syndrome Down Syndrome People with Down syndrome are first and foremost human beings who have recognizable physical characteristics due to the presence of an extra chromosome 21. The estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1, 000 to 1 in 1, 100 live births. Each year approximately 3, 000 to 5, 000 children are born with this chromosome disorder. It is believed there are about 250, 000 families in the United States who are affected by Down syndrome.
Children with Down syndrome are usually smaller, and their physical and mental developments are slower, than youngsters who do not have Down syndrome. The majority of children with Down syndrome function in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation. However, some children are not mentally retarded at all; they may function in the borderline to low average range; others may be severely mentally retarded. There is a wide variation in mental abilities and developmental progress in children with Down syndrome. Also, their motor development is slow; and instead of walking by 12 to 14 months as other children do, children with Down syndrome usually learn to walk between 15 to 36 months. Language development is also markedly delayed.
It is important to note that a caring and enriching home environment, early intervention, and integrated education efforts will have a positive influence on the childs development. Although individuals with Down syndrome have distinct physical characteristics, generally they are more similar to the average person in the community than they are different. The physical features are important to the physician in making the clinical diagnosis, but no emphasis should be put on those characteristics otherwise. Not every child with Down syndrome has all the characteristics; some may only have a few, and others may show most of the signs of Down syndrome. Some of the physical features in children with Down syndrome include flattening of the back of the head, slanting of the eyelids, small skin folds at the inner corner of the eyes, depressed nasal bridge, slightly smaller ears, small mouth, decreased muscle tone, loose ligaments, and small hands and feet.
About fifty percent of all children have a gap between the first and second toes. The physical features observed in children with Down syndrome usually do not cause any disability in the child. Although many theories have been developed, it is not known what actually causes Down syndrome. It has been known for some time that the risk of having a child with Down syndrome increases with advancing age of the mother; i. e. , the older the mother, the greater the possibility that she may have a child with Down syndrome.
However, most babies with Down syndrome are born to mothers younger than 35 years. Some investigators reported that older fathers may also be at an increased risk of having a child with Down syndrome. Parents who have a child with Down syndrome have an increased risk of having another child with Down syndrome in future pregnancies. The child with Down syndrome is in need of the same kind of medical care as any other child. The pediatrician or family physician should provide general health maintenance, immunizations, attend to medical emergencies, and offer support and counseling to the family. There are, however, situations when children with Down syndrome need special attention.
Forty to Forty-five percent of children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease. Many of these children will have to undergo cardiac surgery and often will need long term care. Children with Down syndrome often have more eye problems than other children who do not have this chromosome disorder. For example, 3 percent of infants with Down syndrome have cataracts. They need to be removed surgically.
Other eye problems such as cross-eye, near- sightedness, far-sightedness and other eye conditions are frequently observed in children with Down syndrome. Although many medications and various therapies have been touted as treatment for people with Down syndrome, there is no effective medical treatment available at the present time. Today early intervention programs, and pre-school nurseries, have demonstrated children with Down syndrome can participate in many learning experiences which can positively influence their overall functioning. Research has shown that early intervention, environmental enrichment, and assistance to the families will result in progress that is usually not achieved by those infants who have not had such educational and stimulating experiences. Later, the school can give the child a foundation for life through the development of academic skills and physical as well as social abilities. Experiences provided in school assist the child in obtaining a feeling of self-respect and enjoyment.
School should provide an opportunity for the child to engage in sharing relationships with others and help to prepare the child to become a productive citizen. Contrary to some views, all children can learn, and they will benefit from placement in a normalized setting with support as needed. During adolescence, youngsters with Down syndrome should be exposed to pre vocational training in order to learn good work habits and to engage in proper relationships with co-workers. It is important that society develop attitudes that will permit people with Down syndrome to participate in community life and to be accepted.
They should be offered a status that observes their rights and privileges as citizens, and in a real sense preserves their human dignity. When accorded their rights and treated with dignity, people with Down syndrome will, in turn, provide society with a most valuable humanizing influence.
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Research essay sample on Children With Down Syndrome Child With Down Syndrome
