Today is World Down Syndrome Day

Down syndrome is caused by chromosomal abnormalities. This means that a person with Down syndrome is born with an extra copy of chromosomes, which can cause physical, intellectual and developmental issues ranging from moderate to severe.

Although people with Down syndrome may behave or seem alike, each individual has his/her own unique abilities including their IQ and other abilities.

As explained, Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosomes. Normally, children are born with 46 chromosomes. However, babies with Down syndrome are born with 47 chromosomes, an extra copy of chromosome 21 leading to physical and mental challenges for the individuals.

Although know-how Down syndrome develops, we don’t know why. What we know is that no one is to blame. The alteration of a baby’s cells frequently occurs at the time of conception. Different ethnic and cultural groups, as well as children born to parents of all ages, can be affected by Down syndrome.

• Flattened face and nose
• Slant up almond-shaped eyes
• Short neck
• Tiny ears
• Protruding tongue
• Small white spots on the iris
• Tiny hands and feet
• A single line across the palm of the hand
• Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb
• Poor muscle tone or loose joints
• Shorter in height

• Learning disability
• Delay in speech
• Cognitive impairments ( mild to severe)
• Short term and long term memory problems

• Hearing loss
• Obstructive sleep apnea, is a condition where the person’s breathing temporarily stops while asleep
• Ear infections
• Eye diseases
• Heart defects present at birth

• As a parent, you may be concerned about your child’s educational route and long-term prospects. Teachers, you can see that teaching children with intellectual disabilities poses a number of difficulties. “They will learn,” NICHCY insists, “but it will take them longer.”Clearly, having intellectual challenges poses numerous educational hurdles that must be overcome. These include the following:
  • Difficulties grasping new concepts
  • Inappropriate behavior
  • Limited vocabulary
  • Difficulty completing complex tasks

• Working with people who have intellectual disabilities necessitates a high level of consciousness as well as a great deal of patience. Patience is one of the keys to overcoming the abovementioned educational challenges. It’s likely that you’ll have to revisit lessons or correct a student’s inappropriate behavior several times. Complementing spoken instruction with extra clues, such as using a visual aid to accommodate spoken instructions, is one technique to make repetition more effective.It is also important to put a lot of effort to select words and activities that are suitable for your students. If a student shows creative ability, for example, encourage him or her by giving him or her assignments that target this skill set.NICHCY recommends breaking down complex jobs into tiny segments to make them easier to complete. Giving instant feedback to a youngster to assist him or she learns when he or she is performing a step correctly is also recommended by the organization.Parents might assist their children by proposing related interests for them to pursue. Furthermore, properly selecting your terms will mitigate any issues that may arise as a result of kids’ limited vocabulary.