How Will Down Syndrome Affect The Health and Development of My Child?

If you have recently completed prenatal testing for Down syndrome and have learned that your baby may have Down syndrome, or if you have recently given birth to a child with Down syndrome, it is important to learn as much as possible in order to start planning lifestyle changes regarding the needs of your child.

Physical Health

Individuals with Down syndrome tend to experience more health complications than individuals who do not have Down syndrome. Health issues that occur in individuals with Down syndrome also widely affect the general population, they just tend to be more common when Down syndrome is present.

• Heart defects – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50% of individuals born with Down syndrome are born with a heart defect. Before modern cardiac surgical technologies, the majority of these individuals would not have survived past 5 years of age. New surgical techniques and heart-monitoring technologies have significantly improved the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. 
• Endocrine disorders – Hypothyroidism accounts for the majority of endocrine complications for children with Down syndrome. Hypothyroidism is the result of an overactive thyroid gland, which causes fatigue and irritability. However, this condition can be controlled through the use of hormone therapy.
• Infections – Respiratory infections, skin infections, bladder infections and ear infections commonly affect individuals with Down syndrome. Roughly 50-70% of individuals with Down syndrome will contract ear infections regularly.
• Leukemia – Leukemia is more common in younger individuals with Down syndrome. The risk that an infant with Down syndrome will develop Leukemia is 10-20 times more likely than that of an infant without Down syndrome.
• Hearing impairment – Nearly 75% of individuals with Down syndrome will experience some kind of hearing loss, which leads to difficulties in speech development. Increased risk of hearing loss may be due to chronic ear disease, middle ear infections and a treatable condition, known as “glue ear”. Glue ear occurs when excess wax builds up in the middle part of the ear, due to anatomical abnormalities, and causes hearing loss.

Although these symptoms may seem severe, medical advances have significantly attributed to longer, healthier lives for individuals with Down syndrome.

Learning and Development

• Motor skills – Children with Down syndrome experience a delay in motor skill development, which significantly thwarts their ability to advance to new learning opportunities and experiences. For example, the inability to grasp an object may make it more difficult for children to discover new objects and to independently discover their environment.
• Short-term memory – Children with Down syndrome have difficulty with verbal, short-term memory. They also have a difficult time learning new words and processing verbal language. For this reason, reading is a great method for children with Down syndrome to advance their vocabulary.
• Social development – Although children with Down syndrome fall behind their peers in the classroom, there is less delay in social development. Individuals with Down syndrome follow their peers closely when it comes to developing social skills, because they learn by watching others socially interact. This positive behavior should be encouraged through creating opportunities for children with Down syndrome to make friends and learn socially independent behavior.

Each Individual Is Different

It is important to keep in mind that every individual is different, and the same is true for each individual with Down syndrome. The severity of physical traits, as well as the severity of learning disabilities, will vary. Most individuals with Down syndrome are living longer, healthier lives than previous decades and are occupying a wide range of jobs. Being prepared to raise your child may further improve their future outlook.