Down Syndrome

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Recommended: Various genetic disorders

To all parents, a newborn child is a small miracle, perfect and beautiful in every way. However, in many situations the parents of these miracles learn that their children are “not normal.” Every year 6,000 parents across the country are informed that their child has a genetic disorder called Down Syndrome (“National Down Syndrome Society,” n.d.). Within a matter of minutes parents learn that children with Down Syndrome can also have a variety of other conditions and disorders, will not develop in the same way that other children do, and may even have a shorter life span. However, children with Down Syndrome are happy-go-lucky children with a kind disposition and a wonderful personality. Also known as Trisomy 21, Down Syndrome does not mean the end of a child’s life; it simply means that a child with Down Syndrome will lead a life that is different than that of his or her peers. With love and support from parents, educators, and medical professions these children can become some of the most wonderful people that one will ever meet. Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder that has its own symptoms, occurs during the process of mitosis, and is often connected with other medical conditions; however, with the help of new technology and medical professionals Down syndrome is recognized earlier and those with the condition can lead longer, healthier lives.
Down Syndrome, or Trisomy 21, has a specific set of physical symptoms that many people are familiar with, along with a common set of cognitive symptoms. Most people, even those unfamiliar with Down Syndrome, can recognize the face of a child or adult with the chromosomal condition. This is because Down Syndrome features a face with a slightly flatted nose and eyes that slope upward. In ad...

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...mber of chromosomes remains the same, but an extra presence of the twenty first chromosome is still retained and the symptoms of Down Syndrome are still present (https://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/What-Is-Down-Syndrome/).

References
(2012). National Down Syndrome Society. Retrieved from https://www.ndss.org/
McQuillan, Sharna, Kalsy, Sunny, Oyebode, Jan & Millichap, Dave. (2003). Adults with Down’s Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease. Tizard Learning Disability Review, 8 (4). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214061911/abstract?accountid=4216
Roizen, Nancy & Patterson, David. (2003). Down’s syndrome. The Lancet, 361 (9365). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/199035382/abstract?accountid=4216
Yamkovenko, Stephanie. (n.d.). The Role of OT With Persons With Down Syndrome. Retrieved from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

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