Down Syndrome : What Impact Does It Have On Children?

“Down’s syndrome or learning difficulties are at a lower risk of 4 in 10 infants per 1000 live infants born”.

Down syndrome occurs in people who were born with three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This extra genetic material is what brings about the effects of Down’s syndrome. It is often characterized by an impairment of cognitive (process of thought) ability. Most people with Down syndrome have lower than average, mild to moderate, cognitive ability and this cannot be predicted at birth. A smaller number fall into the severe impairment range. Physically, people with Down’s syndrome are smaller in stature, have less muscle tone, and have noticeably different facial features. The number of these births occurs approximately in one out of every one thousand (ndss.org). As of 2007, the number of people in the United States with Down syndrome stood at about 350,000. These numbers will shrink because now (most) potential parents can know the condition of the fetus early. This information is included to let the reader relate to the struggles that some with Down syndrome goes through.

Discovering you are pregnant with a child is supposed to be one of the best days of your life, but finding out your baby has the one extra 21st chromosome could change everything. Author and national correspondent for the New York Times, Amy Harmon, fights for children and families affected by the disease in her article, “Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus.” Harmon recognizes in her article that raising a child with this disease is not easy. She provides evidence of this by including quotes and personal stories from parents and family members whose loved ones are affected by it. She illustrates a genuine passion for the growing number of parents that are “Convinced that more couples would chose to continue the pregnancies if they better appreciated what it meant to raise a child with Down syndrome”(Harmon). To better put it in perspective, an estimated 90% of women chose to have an abortion if they are given a positive diagnosis for Down syndrome.

The acquisition of language is essential to the development of a child. Though some children are born genetically mutated, specifically children with Down’s syndrome, the capabilities of acquiring language during developmental markers is far less than a child with just 21 chromosomes. Parents and/or guardians of infants and toddlers with Down’s syndrome believe that their child will one day be able to verbally communicate with them. They presume the possibility, but does research support their beliefs? For the purpose of this paper, the child from infancy through three-years old will be discussed in regards to the developmental domain that are affected by Down’s syndrome. The undeniable assumption is if an institution provides early intervention for an infant or toddler with Down’s syndrome, then that child’s social-emotional and language will be affected.

Down Syndrome is the most common genetic form of mental retardation and occurs in about 1 out of every 800 births. It has distinctive characteristics that allow it to be easily distinguished from other forms of mental retardation (3). Factors such as maternal age, hormonal abnormalities, x-rays, viral infection, immunologic problems, and genetic predisposition can cause the improper

Down syndrome is a type of genetic disorder that stems from an abnormal increase in the production of a specific chromosome which is a person’s genetic blueprint. The results of the additional genetic material alters the normal course of development experienced by people and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is most “A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm” (National Institute of Health 2015) In addition, “physical development in children with Down syndrome is often slower than development of children without Down syndrome. For example, because of poor muscle tone, a child with Down syndrome may be slow to learn to turn over, sit, stand, and walk”. (A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia, 2012) although they also stated that eventually children with Down syndrome will be able to reach these important milestones.

I. Attention Getter: Approximately one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, that makes approximately 6000 babies born each year with Down syndrome. Although physical and cognitive traits are affected by this genetic disorder, individuals can attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, have meaningful relationships, vote and contribute to society in many wonderful ways. II. Thesis: Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in the United States and it accounts for much of the learning disabilities found in children today (Staff 2014).

Children are our future; our future scientists, doctors, teachers, president and so much more. It is hard not to notice the number of young parents nowadays that have children. the average age range for mothers giving birth is 20-34. With the current up rise of babies being born to young mothers, I could not help but think about how age plays a factor into birth effects. Down syndrome is the most common single cause of human birth defects. The most common form of Down syndrome is known as trisomy 21, a genetic condition where individuals have 47 chromosomes in each cell instead of 46. Trisomy 21 is caused by an error in cell division called nondisjunction, which leaves a sperm or egg cell with an extra copy of chromosome 21 before or at conception.

Trisomy 21 also called Down syndrome, is an abnormality at a chromosome level and is believed to be the most prevalent genetic impairment (Bukato & Daehler, 2012, p. 89). Compared to other children with related mental development, a child with Down syndrome has academic impairment such as language and memory, their physical development is considered slow, and they possess unique traits. Some of these traits consist of almond shaped eyes, a flattened facial feature, broad hands, and an unusual crease in the center of the palm. Physical development is considered slow which results in being short in stature, height, and poor muscle tone. This syndrome causes poor vision including cataracts and other eye problem, immune system deficiencies. Forty percent

From Charlie and Claire’s presentation, I learned about the consistent behaviors of children with Down Syndrome as well as the importance of intervention and support through development. When I was in high school, I babysat Emma, a girl with Down Syndrome, regularly. I noticed that some of the mannerisms that Charlie continually made were similar to those that I knew Emma to make. For example, Charlie is active and likes to have control when he can, which was demonstrated when he asked everyone to put their computers away and led the “question answering session” in an orderly fashion. Much like Emma, Charlie shows compassion and the desire for human touch and interaction. I also learned about the potential role that an SLP might have as a child with Down Syndrome develops. I know that it is typical for children with Down Syndrome to have a smaller oral cavity, which results in a larger tongue for space provided. Thus being said, an SLP can work with the child through learning how to produce speech intelligibly. I noticed that Charlie was stuttering at certain points, but

It's hard to believe a random error in cell division known as nondisjunction can be the reason for so many birth defects. This one mistake is the cause of 1 in 691 babies being born with what is known as Down Syndrome. In every cell in the human body, there is a nucleus. Typically there are twenty three chromosomes in each nucleus. Down Syndrome occurs when there is extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. Down Syndrome is a chromosomal condition that causes low muscle tone, small stature, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. Although, each person with Down Syndrome is a unique individual and may have these characteristics to different degrees.

Down syndrome is a disorder in which an individual gets a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. Normally, at the time of conception a baby inherits genetic information from its parents in the form of 46 chromosomes: 23 from the mother and 23 from the father, but in most cases of Down syndrome a child gets an extra chromosome 21 for a total of 47 chromosomes instead of 46. The three types of Down syndrome are trisomy 21 (nondisjunction), translocation and mosaicism. According to the National Down Syndrome Society (2012), “One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with down syndrome, making down syndrome the most common genetic condition. Approximately 400,000 Americans have Down syndrome and about 6,000 babies with Down syndrome are born in the United States each year.” Down syndrome causes intellectual disability, developmental delays, and a distinct facial appearance such as a small head, a flattened face especially the bridge of the nose, an almond-shaped eyes that slant up, a short neck, small ears, a tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth, tiny white spots on the iris of the eye, small hands and feet, a single line across the palm of the hand (palmar crease), poor muscle tone or loose joints, and shorter in height as children and adults.

Down Syndrome, also known a Trisomy 21, is the most common cause of Mental deficiency that occurs from childbirth. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that occurs when there is an extra chromosome Present. The presence of an extra chromosome causes this genetic disorder because chromosomes contain all of our genetic information and when this information is disrupted during cell division for example, when one is conceived with an added chromosome this causes many problems with the coding of the DNA. down syndrome occurs during cell division in early fetal stages. usually one inherits 23 chromosomes from each parent but in some cases people inherit an extra chromosome and receive three sets of chromosome 21, this is when the genetic disorder

Down syndrome, or also known as trisomy 21, describes a set of cognitive and physical symptoms that result from an extra copy or part of a copy of chromosome (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2012). Chromosomes carry the genes that tell the body to develop in certain ways and to perform certain functions. Most cells of the human body contain 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46 chromosomes (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2012). People with Down syndrome have either a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, for a total of 47 chromosomes (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2012). The extra chromosome disrupts the normal course of development and results in the physical features and intellectual and developmental disabilities associated with the syndrome (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2012).

Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) is the most common chromosomal disorder that copies an extra part or complete set of the 21st chromosome. Children born with this genetic disorder have a very challenging way of life compared to regular children. About 1 in 1,000 babies born with mothers under 30 years of age tend to be diagnosed with Down syndrome. With this disorder, people have a life expectancy of 47 years, compared to the average human life expectancy rate in the U.S., which is 78 years. A specific racial group affected by this disorder is African Americans. African Americans born with down syndrome have a less chance of surviving their first year of life compared to white children with Down syndrome.