People with Down syndrome often have mild to moderate intellectual disability, leading to learning challenges, short attention spans, and slower speech development, but they also frequently possess strong social skills, empathy, and are often visual learners; key mental traits include cognitive delays, but also positive social attributes like being affectionate and sociable, alongside potential challenges like stubbornness, impulsivity, and an increased risk for certain psychiatric conditions.
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.
The most common mental health concerns in individuals with Down syndrome include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, oppositional behaviors, depression, and tic disorder.
In addition to intellectual and developmental disabilities, children with Down syndrome are at an increased risk for certain health problems. However, each individual with Down syndrome is different, and not every person will have serious health problems.
Most children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. This means that they have problems with memory, learning new things, focusing and thinking, or making decisions that affect their everyday life. Language and speech are delayed.
The mental age is rarely over 8 years old, although a few cases of normal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in children with DS have Page 2 Cognitive development and adaptive functions in children with Down syndrome at different developmental stages 85 been reported 4.
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.
If both parents have achondroplasia there is a 50 percent chance to have a child with achondroplasia, a 25 percent chance that the child will not inherit the gene and be of average height, and a 25 percent chance that the child will inherit one abnormal gene from each parent, which can lead to severe skeletal problems ...
The answer is a resounding yes. People with Down syndrome can and do date, fall in love, and get married. Just like anyone else, they experience attraction, build meaningful relationships, and dream of sharing their lives with someone special.
Down Syndrome Statistics by Country in 2025
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.
Individuals with schizophrenia have an increased risk of premature mortality (death at a younger age than the general population). The estimated average potential life lost for individuals with schizophrenia in the U.S. is 28.5 years.
People with Down syndrome may have these physical characteristics: a small chin, epicanthic folds, low muscle tone, a flat nasal bridge, and a protruding tongue. A protruding tongue is caused by low tone and weak facial muscles, and often corrected with myofunctional exercises.
Individuals with Down syndrome can have many kinds of relationships, including romantic and intimate ones. Learning about sexuality and relationships can help your loved one feel confident and supported as they build close connections with others.
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.
Our records at the center indicate that 81 percent of the adults seen engage in conversations with themselves or imaginary companions.
While females with Down syndrome are reported to be fertile or subfertile, males are reported to be infertile. To date, there are reports of three pregnancies that were fathered by two male Down syndrome patients (1, 2). We report a case of a nonmosaic Down syndrome male who fathered a normal child.
These top issues that married couples face are financial struggles, parenting conflict, and family drama. These 3 issues seem to be the normal issues presented in therapy and they are very common in my practice today.
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.
Q: What is the definition of dwarfism? A: Little People of America (LPA) defines dwarfism as a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4'10" or shorter, among both men and women, although in some cases a person with a dwarfing condition may be slightly taller than that.
During early fetal development, much of the skeleton is made up of a strong, flexible body tissue called cartilage. As the fetus grows, this cartilage becomes bone. In achondroplasia, the body has a problem turning cartilage into bone, especially in the long bones of the arms and legs.
Traditionally, the term “dwarf” was used to describe individuals with disproportions of body and limb, while “midget” referred to those of reduced stature but normal proportions; today neither word is used, and “little people” has become the preferred term for persons with extreme growth retardation.
(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.
[For example, instead of saying a “Down syndrome child,” it is preferred to say a “child with Down syndrome.] By using People First Language, the speaker will be sure to identify people with disabilities as individuals first, and can maintain a proper focus on their unique gifts, accomplishments and abilities.
Down syndrome is not new — in fact, the first evidence of its existence dates back 2,500 years. The facial features of DS are found in some ancient pottery and paintings. The syndrome is named after John Langdon Down, an English doctor who published a clinical description in 1866.