Disability Research

Down Syndrome
Overview:Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that occurs in 1 of 800 live deaths. It can be associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities. Also many people with downsyndrome have other deffects such as heart problems etc… Some characteristics of people with down syndrome could be a flattened face and nose, small mouth, white spots, short hands. Development and growth is usually delayed.
Characteristics:
  • eyes that slant upwards
  • small ears
  • flat back of head
  • small mouth
  • protruding tongue
  • flattened nose bridge
  • white spots on the iris (the coloured part of the eye), known as Brushfield spots
  • short fingers
  • broad hands with a single crease across the palm
  • loose skin on the back of the neck
  • loose joints (babies in particular may seem ‘floppy’)
  • poor muscle tone (hypotonia)
  • low birth weight
  • vertical skin folds (epicanthic folds) between the upper eyelids and inner corner of the e ye

Symptoms: Intellectual disability, heart defects, celiac disease or hyperthyroidism.
Causes:It occurs due to an extra chromosome.It is a genetic condition.
Treatment: Treatment is based on the persons unique symptoms, initially it is normal to fell worried however you need to adjust and learn to give your child more attention and care. “Three important parts of ongoing treatment for Down syndrome are making sure that your child has regular medical checkups, helping to manage his or her adjustments to social and physical changes, and promoting independence.”
Prevention: You cannot prevent down syndrome however if you are pregnant and you know that you’re child has down syndrome you can prepare yourself by finding good doctors and learning about the condition and how to deal with it.
*There is no medication for down syndrome however, there is medications with the diseases associated with it.

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Websites Used:
**http://www.medicinenet.com/down_syndrome/article.htm#what**
**http://children.webmd.com/tc/down-syndrome-what-happens**
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Downs-syndrome/Pages/Causes.aspx