Have you ever heard of the condition “Down syndrome”, what comes to mind first when you hear this?
Let’s clear up some misconceptions about this condition and give insights into what it really is.
MYTH: Down syndrome is hereditary and runs in the family
FACT: Down syndrome isn't inherited most of the time. It's caused by a mistake in cell division during the early development of the fetus. However, Translocation Down syndrome (a type of down syndrome) can be passed from parent to child.
MYTH: People with down syndrome do not have feelings
FACT: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like anyone else. They experience a full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are best defined as small “packages” of genes in the body which determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth. Usually, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes, babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes which changes how the body and the brain develop thus leading to mental and physical challenges for the baby.
Some common physical features include:
- A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose
- 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 (colored part) of the eye
- Small hands and feet
- A single line across the palm of the hand (palmar crease)
- Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb
- Poor muscle tone or loose joints
- Shorter in height as children and adults
One factor that increases the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is the mother’s age. Women who are 35 years or older when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy affected by Down syndrome than women who become pregnant at a younger age. However, the majority of babies with Down syndrome are born to mothers less than 35 years old because there are many more births among younger women. Some people with Down syndrome might have one or more major birth defects or other medical problems. This includes; Hearing loss, Obstructive sleep apnea (a condition where the person’s breathing temporarily stops while asleep), Ear infections, Eye disease, Heart defects present at birth etc. A child with down syndrome can have one or a combination of the medical problems listed above but it is rare to have it all. Health care providers routinely monitor children with Down syndrome for these conditions.
How to care for someone with down syndrome
- Find support and stay on top of doctor’s visits to get accurate information specific to the individual to help them live a long and happy life.
- Each individual with down syndrome has unique needs and abilities hence pay attention to details to find activities, classes, or creative outlets that would enable them to explore their interests.
- Never stop learning! Joining a support group can also help to add to knowledge, learning from the experiences of other caregivers.
- Give individuals with down syndrome some control; let them make choices when it makes sense to, allowing them to take reasonable risks, support them in solving problems. The goal is to allow them to do some things and not do everything as the caregiver.
- Physical therapy to help build muscle tone and coordination, especially for the children.
Need some encouragement? Here are some examples of people who excelled in different careers with down syndrome
References
- Allen EG, Freeman SB, Druschel C, et al. Maternal age and risk for trisomy 21 assessed by the origin of chromosome nondisjunction: a report from the Atlanta and National Down Syndrome Projects. Hum Genet. 2009 Feb;125(1):41-52.
- Ghosh S, Feingold E, Dey SK. Etiology of Down syndrome: Evidence for consistent association among altered meiotic recombination, nondisjunction, and maternal age across populations. Am J Med Genet A. 2009 Jul;149A(7):1415-20
- Adams MM, Erickson JD, Layde PM, Oakley GP. Down’s syndrome. Recent trends in the United States. JAMA. 1981 Aug 14;246(7):758-60.
- Olsen CL, Cross PK, Gensburg LJ, Hughes JP. The effects of prenatal diagnosis, population ageing, and changing fertility rates on the live birth prevalence of Down syndrome in New York State, 1983-1992. Prenat Diagn. 1996 Nov;16(11):991-1002.
- Myths and truths. National Down Syndrome Society. Available at: https://www.ndss.org/about-down-syndrome/myths-truths/
- Facts about Down syndrome. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html#:~:text=is%20Down%20Syndrome%3F-,Down%20syndrome%20is%20a%20condition%20in%20which%20a%20person%20has,during%20pregnancy%20and%20after%20birth.