Down Syndrome: Affects, Treatments, Resources and Life Challenges

Down syndrome is a condition characterized by a third chromosome on the 21^st pair. A child with Down syndrome has a characteristic skin fold over the eye and developmentally delayed. Additional characteristics are rounded face and protruding tongue. These children typically suffer from heart problems along with ears, nose and throat disorders. Currently it is estimated that 50% of children who experience Down syndrome develop cardiovascular conditions later in life.

A child born with Down syndrome occurs in an average of 1 in 700 births. This prevalence increases with the age of the parents. According to Rathus (2006), a twenty year old mother has a 1 in 1,667 chance of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome while a forty-nine year old mother has a 1 in 11 chance. Today, there is almost a half million people in the United States living with Down syndrome. The prevalence would be higher but more than 90 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. Let’s put this into perspective. Today, many states are putting pressures on doctors to encourage more prenatal testing for this disorder. Without parental education, abortion rates will continue to rise to the levels which could affect the next generation. Think about our current generation of children and young adults that have Downs Syndrome. If in ten to twenty years there are no children affected by Down syndrome, it could be a lonely world for this current generation needing peer groups that understand what they are going thru not to mention the gifts to society these people bring.

I recently had a conversation with a dear close friend of mine Mike Etzell. He is a father of a child who is affected by Downs syndrome and a community parental resource advocate for our county. I asked Mike if there are any social stereo types for children affected by Down syndrome. He told me that people seem to believe that all children with Down syndrome are happy and like music. This idea is far from reality. Children with Down syndrome are just like any other child. They have emotions, likes, dislikes, interests and talents just like any other child. Mike told me that many people want to put limits on a child with disabilities and have low expectations. If we are to encourage our special needs children to reach for the stars and follow their dreams, then we need to foster a sense of self worth, confidence and independence. Encourage goal setting and steps to achieve their goals. Mike said that he envisions the day that his son will own his own business and he will be there to support him.

Treatments: There is no specific treatment for this condition. Many people die of this condition as a result of complications by middle age. Educational programs are effective. These programs can be found on local levels such as early childhood intervention programs. Please consult with your local Department of Health and Human Service office and the local school district office. In with state of Washington, we have a Father’s Network Program for fathers of children with disabilities to connect with fathers who are going through similar situations. For fathers looking for a support group visit Father’s Network.

You will find fathers that can help you create your own network in your state. Just recently, a father from New York contacted our chapter here in Washington. He has now recently started his own version of the Fathers’ Network.

See http://www.socyberty.com/Disabled/Disability-Resources-and-Advocates.262063 for more disability resources and advocacy programs

See http://www.healthmad.com/Conditions-and-Diseases/Possible-Connections-to-Autism.221829

See my some of my friends’ articles at www.laurenaxelrod.blogspot.com