To talk to someone with Down syndrome, speak directly to them with clear, simple language, assume their competence, give them time to respond, and use visual aids like gestures; treat them as an individual with unique strengths, avoiding patronizing tones or talking to their companion instead. Focus on one idea at a time, be patient, and find out what communication methods work best for them.
People with Down syndrome may experience speech and language delays, but they are eager to communicate and understand much of what is said to them. By speaking clearly, allowing extra response time, and using visual and social cues, you can make conversations easier and more meaningful.
Reinforcement (providing something positive or removing something negative), especially social rewards (praise, smiles, high-fives, etc), typically work best for children with DS. Remember to reinforce behaviors you want repeated and not to reinforce behaviors you are trying to extinguish.
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Cognitive impairment, or problems with thinking and learning, is common in people with Down syndrome and usually ranges from mild to moderate. Only rarely is Down syndrome associated with severe cognitive impairment. Other common cognitive and behavioral problems may include1,2,3: Short attention span.
Aggression in adults with Down syndrome can happen for many reasons. The most common causes include frustration, confusion, and environmental changes. If someone can't express themselves well, they may get upset. Stress from life changes—like moving or starting a new routine—can also increase aggression.
Don't speak in clichés.
When you're a parent of a new baby with Down syndrome, “special” sounds a little like a euphemism for “weird and different” and I'm pretty sure the last thing you want to be telling the parents is that they or their newborn is weird.
People with Down syndrome will typically have some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features. There are some health problems associated with Down syndrome, such as heart problems and difficulties with sight and hearing, but these will not affect everyone with the condition.
Learning and Thinking
The average IQ of a young adult with Down syndrome is 50, equivalent to the mental age of an 8- or 9-year-old child, but this number varies widely. At the same time, they enjoy a rich social and emotional awareness.
A simple and easy way to remember all the steps of a BIP is the 4 Rs: reduce, replace, reinforce and respond. The first step in a BIP is to be proactive and attempt to reduce the chance of interfering behavior.
Behavioral problems such as stubbornness, impulsivity, and temper tantrums may be more common in children with Down syndrome. Many children talk out loud to themselves as a way of understanding and processing information. On the other hand, many children with Down syndrome have strong social skills.
The life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has dramatically increased, now averaging around 60 years, a significant rise from just 25 years in the 1980s, thanks to improved medical care, early interventions, and better support systems, allowing many to live healthy, active lives into their 60s, 70s, and beyond. However, this can vary, with some research highlighting disparities in life expectancy, especially across different racial groups, and noting increased risks for certain age-related health issues.
(For example, singing a favorite song or providing another activity: “Let's color.”) For some children, sensory-seeking behaviors are their way of calming down and relieving stress, so allowing access to self-stim as needed can help children regulate their stress and emotion.
Strong evidence suggests that phonology, expressive vocabulary, receptive and expressive syntax, and some pragmatic aspects of language are impaired beyond expectations for nonverbal cognitive level.
Down's syndrome affects each individual entirely differently. Some people may need very little support, whereas others may need someone to pop in regularly throughout the day or even require a live-in carer. Whatever your care needs are, we will meet with you and your family to decide exactly what you need and when.
Food, games, and toys for Down syndrome adults are all great gift ideas. Home delivery subscription: A subscription service that delivers new items monthly, like books, flowers, gourmet snacks, or even fun socks, is a gift that keeps bringing joy and gives the recipient something to look forward to.
The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Although the life expectancy of individuals with Down's syndrome continues to increase, they experience premature aging marked by cognitive impairments from the age of 35–40, which could make them more vulnerable to feelings of loneliness.
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.
ALSO, YES. Provided they're of legal age, there's no inherent reason an individual with Down syndrome can't consume alcohol. If people with Down syndrome don't drink alcohol, it's likely due to other factors rather than the condition itself. Yet, the myth persists.
It is important to acknowledge that there are also children and teenagers with Down syndrome who struggle with social skills to some degree. Shyness, group avoidance, solitary preferences, lacking eye contact, lack of responses can lead to challenges both in school and home settings.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
While every person with Down syndrome is different, some characteristics are common.
1)Defiance and Opposition: Adults with Down syndrome are commonly stereotyped for being stubborn, but in many cases, defiance and opposition is how adults with Down syndrome attempt to exercise some control over their day to day lives.