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Title: Special Needs: Focus on Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder occurring in approximately 1 in 800 births. As with all children, those born with Down Syndrome display a wide range of interests, abilities, and personality traits. Although older mothers are more likely to give birth to a child with Down Syndrome, many young mothers in their 20s and early 30s also have Down Syndrome children. The potential of these children to learn and have fulfilling lives has been increasingly recognized over the past decade, and more resources have become available to help families meet their child�s special needs.
Children with Down Syndrome are usually smaller and develop physically and mentally at a slower rate than other children. For example, the typical age for a baby to be able to sit alone ranges from 5 � 9 months. For the Down Syndrome population, the age for an infant to sit alone ranges from 6 � 30 months. Most children with Down Syndrome function in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation, and given help and opportunity can learn many life skills.
Because Down Syndrome children tend to have low muscle tone, parents may wish to consult with a physical therapist to get ideas for increasing muscle strength and tone for large muscle groups through daily activities in the home. Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome is an excellent resource written by physical therapist Patricia C. Winders. This book includes information about motor development, with over 100 activities and photos for helping a child practice motor skills at home. It is a wonderful guide for parents and professionals working with a child from infancy through age 6 years.
Just as low muscle tone affects gross motor development, it also impacts fine motor skills for small muscle groups. Occupational therapists have expertise to share in this area. Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome, written by occupational therapist Maryanne Bruni, describes age-appropriate activities for working on fine motor skills for Down Syndrome children ages birth through 12 years. This guide provides exercises to develop hand skills that can easily be practiced through the normal activities of daily life.
Children with Down Syndrome are often born with other health concerns. Over half of the individuals born with Down Syndrome have congenital heart defects, and many must undergo surgery to correct the defect. Additionally, there are concerns about increased susceptibility to respiratory problems and infections, eye problems, skin conditions, and hearing loss. To help parents understand the many medical conditions and treatments that their child may be facing, the book Medical and Surgical Care for Children with Down Syndrome was written as a guide. The book, edited by D.C. VanDyke, M.D., Philip Mattheis, M.D., Susan Schoon Eberly, M.A., and Janet Williams, R.N., Ph.D. contains illustrations, photographs, a resource guide, and information about specific areas of concern to help parents find the information they need.
Speech therapists can provide information and treatment suggestions for helping with areas related to feeding, language, and speech skills. Many parents are finding it helpful to learn ways to help their child increase muscle tone and strength in the lip and tongue areas, since this will improve skills for eating, drinking, and speech. Building up the muscles in the mouth area can greatly decrease the tongue protrusion often seen in Down Syndrome children, and can increase speech intelligibility. Children as young as one month old can experience the benefits of some simple exercises that parents can do as they enjoy time together with their baby.

In addition to books, check the internet (see chart for internet sites pertaining to Down Syndrome) and local Down Syndrome support groups for excellent resources for finding information and learning from other parents who have experienced the challenges of raising a child with Down Syndrome. As with any child, development and growth will require investments of time and effort, but you will be amazed at the rewards, improvements and lessons learned.

Down Syndrome sites on the Internet:

http://www.ds-health.com/ -
news and information about Down Syndrome for parents and professionals

http://www.central.edu/education/rex/rex.htm -
frequently asked questions about Down Syndrome and more general information

http://www.ndss.org/ -
comprehensive information source on Down Syndrome

http://www.loveandlearning.com/ -
educational materials for birth to three (or older nonverbal children) to promote reading and language development for Down Syndrome Children

http://members.tripod.com/~Maaja/index.htm -
this site has information on homeschooling all kinds of special needs, including Down Syndrome. Good information, but lots of advertisements make it somewhat tricky to navigate.

Each of these sites includes links to other sites with information about Down Syndrome.

I invite you to use any articles in your publication or website. All I ask is that you notify me of its use and include the following byline with the article ...

Melinda L. Boring is a speech therapist, author, workshop presenter, speaker, wife, mother, homeschooler, and president of Heads Up! (www.HeadsUpNow.com); Her goal is to present concepts, ideas, techniques and materials to help parents and teachers who work with special needs children, especially those who struggle with ADD/ADHD.

To request an article on a specific topic or submit a question for the Q & A section, you may contact Melinda by email: info@headsupnow.com. Unless otherwise specified, all questions may be answered and posted on this website.

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