The Importance Of Down Syndrome

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Down syndrome (DS) is an unpreventable, chromosomal disorder characterized by excessive genetic material which hinders the ongoing progression of a child’s growth that, involves physical and intellectual development. In the majority of the cases, DS is caused by Trisomy 21 –a chromosomal defect, where there are three copies of chromosome 21 in each of the cells, instead of the norm of two. Generally, Down syndrome is not hereditary since it is caused by a blunder in the process of cell division during the formation of the reproductive cells from one of the parents. There is evidence that mothers over the maternal age of thirty-five are more susceptible to having a child with DS. The prevalence of DS in Canada, is approximately 1 in every 800 live births. It is often diagnosed in early infancy by the examination of specific characteristics linked to the baby’s appearance – such as hypotonia (low muscle tone), palmer’s crease, slightly flattened facial profile, an upward slant to the eyes, small mouth, and protruding tongue. (HudsonAlpha, 2012) However, prenatal screening and blood tests can also determine if the baby is at any subsequent risk of having DS for early prognosis and intervention. Cognitive deficits such as intellectual disabilities are redundant in DS. The degree of intellectual disabilities range from normal to severe and, approximately 80% of the individuals with DS suffer from a type of intellectual disability. (Roberts et al., 2007) Children with Down syndrome are more prone to frequent ear infections which leads to decreased hearing abilities and delayed language acquisition displayed in normal children. According to Chapman et al., (2000), the loss of hearing appears to be a chronic issue through... ... middle of paper ... ...s that can help them to have mundane lives. The key to improvement for language difficulties in individuals with DS, is early intervention which may yield many opportunities for an optimistic future. Advancement in health care and science today, have impacted the world and contributed to the lives of individuals with DS, positively. Their life expectancy as we know today, have increased dramatically in contrast to the past. It is evident that the language learning process for individuals with DS is long-term and increases with the aid of special education, occupational, speech, and language therapy, and physiotherapy. We need to encourage more research on the different areas in language development such as; phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics to new heights, and continue to discover more efficient ways that can be beneficial to individuals with DS.

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