Down syndrome (DS) is a condition characterized by an additional chromosome, a total of 47, instead of the 46 chromosomes a child should have. This extra genetic material causes physical and cognitive delays, which often lead to varying degrees of mental retardation. One in every 800 babies born is affected; doctors are able to detect Down syndrome before a child is born through diagnostic testing with 99% accuracy. The risk of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome increases with age, for women over 42 the risk is about one in 60.

Children with Down syndrome tend to have certain physical characteristics, which usually allow doctors to identify the condition through a routine physical exam at birth. Usual characteristics include a flat facial profile, an upward slant to the eyes, small ears, an enlarged tongue, and a single crease across the center of the palms. Infants born with DS seem to be "floppy" because children born with DS usually have low muscle tone and loose joints.

Communities usually have many resources to assist families who have a child affected with DS, and doctors are usually able to treat the associated health problems. Children with Down syndrome usually reach their developmental milestones, like sitting up, crawling, walking, and potty training significantly later than their peers do. They may also display delays in speech, self-feeding, and self-dressing skills. Some children with Down syndrome are able to lead independent and healthy lives while others require a lot of medical attention and assisted living.

Approximately one-half of the children born with Down syndrome will have congenital heart defects and may develop pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs.) Approximately one-half of the children born with DS will also have hearing and vision problems. Other frequently occurring medical conditions that affect children with DS are thyroid problems, intestinal abnormalities, seizure disorders, respiratory problems, obesity, various infections, and childhood leukemia. Specialist using either medication or surgery can treat most of these conditions successfully.

These children have a wide range in their capabilities so there really is no way to predict at birth what their grown up abilities will be, however most will have mild to moderate mental retardation. They can, and do learn, and have the capacity to develop skills throughout their lives. It is important not to compare the progress of children with Down syndrome to other children because they all progress at different rates.

Hoping to adopt?
Adopting Special Needs Children
Photo Credit