Talking with people with Down syndrome
Don't try to guess how much the person can or can't understand. Assume the person can understand and reply to you. Give people with Down syndrome the chance to show what they can do. Speak directly to the person, not the person with them.
Because of this visual strength, abstract concepts such as grammar, verb tenses, word roots, suffixes and prefixes are more difficult areas. Children with Down syndrome frequently have difficulty with grammar, tenses and word endings and use shorter sentences to communicate.
Use this language when referring to Down syndrome and people who have Down syndrome: People with Down syndrome should always be referred to as people first. Avoid: "a Down syndrome child" or "Down's child" - it should be "a child with Down syndrome."
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.
The emphasis should be on the person, not the disability. A person with Down syndrome has many other qualities and attributes that can be used to describe them. Encourage people to use People-First Language. “The person with Down syndrome”, not “the Down syndrome person.” A person with Down syndrome is not “a Downs”.
Children and adults with Down syndrome experience all the same emotions everyone experiences, both good and bad. They also experience mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others.
Yes! People with Down syndrome have the same needs and desires as people without Down syndrome. In adolescence and adulthood, they might wish to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, be physically close to their partner, kiss, and have sex. Needs may vary from one person to another, as for all other individuals.
Misconception: Adults who have Down syndrome cannot live independently or get jobs. Reality: An increasing number of adults with Down syndrome in the U.S. are living independently with limited assistance from family members or the state. A small percentage are able to live entirely independently.
Makaton or Signalong communication systems are often used with children who have Down's syndrome. If you do not know how to use Makaton or Signalong, you can use natural gesture and lots of expression in your face and voice. This will also help your child to understand.
Speech production of individuals with Down syndrome may be related to differences in oral structure and function (Miller & Leddy, 1998; Stoel-Gammon, 1997). Structural differences include a small oral cavity with a relatively large tongue and a narrow, high arched palate.
Children with Down syndrome usually have delayed speech and language development. Typically, these children have a much harder time learning to talk (expressive language) than with understanding what they hear (receptive language).
Babies with Down's syndrome are like any newborn babies.
They'll be eating, sleeping, crying, and needing love and cuddles just like all babies. Some babies with Down's syndrome might need extra help. This could be with things like feeding. There's support available for whatever you or your baby needs.
Those with Down syndrome nearly always have physical and intellectual disabilities. As adults, their mental abilities are typically similar to those of an 8- or 9-year-old. At the same time, their emotional and social awareness is very high.
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. A sudden or abrupt change in mood or behavior patterns warrants further investigation.
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.
People with Down syndrome also tend to get age-related health problems earlier than others. This includes dementia, memory loss, and problems with judgment or changes in personality that are similar to Alzheimer's disease.
Down syndrome, also called Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, or (formerly) mongolism, congenital disorder caused by the presence in the human genome of extra genetic material from chromosome 21.
Can adults with Down's syndrome have children; and if so, what is the chance of their children having the condition? Yes. A woman with Down's syndrome can have children. If her partner does not have Down's syndrome, the theoretical chance of the child having Down's syndrome is 50%.
Can a couple with Down syndrome have children? It is often difficult for a couple with Down syndrome to conceive a child due to low fertility in the male and lack of ovulation in the female and the likelihood of entering menopause early.
Today the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome is approximately 60 years. As recently as 1983, the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome was 25 years. The dramatic increase to 60 years is largely due to the end of the inhumane practice of institutionalizing people with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome is one of the most common congenital genetic disorders. Generally, individuals with Down syndrome presents perceptually strained, husky, monotonous, raucous and a typically low pitched voice quality.
Behavioral issues can include attention problems, obsessive/compulsive behavior, and stubbornness or tantrums. A small percentage of people with Down syndrome are also diagnosed with developmental conditions called autism spectrum disorders, which affect communication and social interaction.