Is DS curable?
There is no ‘cure’ for Down syndrome, but there are many things that can be done to help someone with the condition lead a healthy, active and more independent life.
This includes good parenting skills and an ordinary family life, education and support groups to provide information and help to parents, friends and families, early intervention programmes to provide support for children and parents, access to good healthcare including a range of different specialists
These are described in more detail below.
Emotional impact
In some cases, it may not be apparent a baby has Down syndrome until after they are born. Giving birth can be exciting, scary and tiring, and finding out that your baby has Down syndrome can be unexpected and alarming.
Some families accept their baby’s diagnosis of Down syndrome quickly while others need time to adjust.
If you have recently found out your child has Down syndrome, you may feel a range of emotions, such as fear, sadness or confusion. It is quite common for parents to have negative thoughts after the birth of their new baby.
There is no right or wrong way to react. Finding out more about the condition will give you a better understanding about how it may affect your child’s life, as well as your own. Many parents find it reassuring to learn more about Down syndrome and talk to other parents.
Family life
Living with a young child with Down syndrome can be demanding, particularly in the early years. It’s important to find a balance to ensure your child can grow up within a happy, loving and active family environment.
As with all new babies, they need to fit in with what is going on around them and other family members needs. You don’t always have to do ‘educational’ or meaningful activities with your child and it can be just as beneficial to their development and happiness to do fun activities with family.
Education
Increasing numbers of children with Down syndrome are educated in mainstream nurseries or mainstream schools with support.
However, individual needs vary and some children will benefit from attending a school or nursery that provides specialist support for children with a disability or special educational needs.
Support groups
Thousands of people in the world have Down syndrome and family members, carers and friends all have experience in supporting and caring for people with the condition.
You may find it helpful to talk about your experiences with other families. They can offer you advice and talk through any fears or concerns you may have.
Early intervention
Early intervention programmes are widespread for children with learning disabilities and help in all areas of child development, as well as providing support to the family.
These programmes include speech and physiotherapy as well as individual home teaching programmes for the child and family. Being part of an early intervention programme also gives families the opportunity to find out about the syndrome, meet other families in similar situations and share support.
During the past 30 years, extensive research has taken place looking at how people with Down syndrome learn, and which skills are particularly challenging. There is now information for professionals and families to use which enables children to develop the skills they need to get the most out of life. Children and adults with Down syndrome can and do continue to learn throughout their lives.
Care team
Children and adults with Down syndrome need regular check-ups to monitor their health. Certain health problems may be more likely to develop in people with Down syndrome so it's important to monitor their health to detect and treat any problems as soon as possible. There are a number of different healthcare professionals who will monitor and treat someone with Down syndrome, these may include:
This includes good parenting skills and an ordinary family life, education and support groups to provide information and help to parents, friends and families, early intervention programmes to provide support for children and parents, access to good healthcare including a range of different specialists
These are described in more detail below.
Emotional impact
In some cases, it may not be apparent a baby has Down syndrome until after they are born. Giving birth can be exciting, scary and tiring, and finding out that your baby has Down syndrome can be unexpected and alarming.
Some families accept their baby’s diagnosis of Down syndrome quickly while others need time to adjust.
If you have recently found out your child has Down syndrome, you may feel a range of emotions, such as fear, sadness or confusion. It is quite common for parents to have negative thoughts after the birth of their new baby.
There is no right or wrong way to react. Finding out more about the condition will give you a better understanding about how it may affect your child’s life, as well as your own. Many parents find it reassuring to learn more about Down syndrome and talk to other parents.
Family life
Living with a young child with Down syndrome can be demanding, particularly in the early years. It’s important to find a balance to ensure your child can grow up within a happy, loving and active family environment.
As with all new babies, they need to fit in with what is going on around them and other family members needs. You don’t always have to do ‘educational’ or meaningful activities with your child and it can be just as beneficial to their development and happiness to do fun activities with family.
Education
Increasing numbers of children with Down syndrome are educated in mainstream nurseries or mainstream schools with support.
However, individual needs vary and some children will benefit from attending a school or nursery that provides specialist support for children with a disability or special educational needs.
Support groups
Thousands of people in the world have Down syndrome and family members, carers and friends all have experience in supporting and caring for people with the condition.
You may find it helpful to talk about your experiences with other families. They can offer you advice and talk through any fears or concerns you may have.
Early intervention
Early intervention programmes are widespread for children with learning disabilities and help in all areas of child development, as well as providing support to the family.
These programmes include speech and physiotherapy as well as individual home teaching programmes for the child and family. Being part of an early intervention programme also gives families the opportunity to find out about the syndrome, meet other families in similar situations and share support.
During the past 30 years, extensive research has taken place looking at how people with Down syndrome learn, and which skills are particularly challenging. There is now information for professionals and families to use which enables children to develop the skills they need to get the most out of life. Children and adults with Down syndrome can and do continue to learn throughout their lives.
Care team
Children and adults with Down syndrome need regular check-ups to monitor their health. Certain health problems may be more likely to develop in people with Down syndrome so it's important to monitor their health to detect and treat any problems as soon as possible. There are a number of different healthcare professionals who will monitor and treat someone with Down syndrome, these may include:
- Physiotherapist - A child with Down syndrome will often have physiotherapy from a young age to help them to improve their range of movement. A physiotherapist can help them to learn to roll over, sit up or walk.
- Speech therapist - Children with Down syndrome may have problems learning to speak, so a speech therapist can help them to learn to communicate more effectively.
- Occupational therapist - Occupational therapists give people practical support to help them live more independently.
- Dietitian - People with Down syndrome often find it difficult to control their weight. Rates of obesity are particularly high among adults with Down syndrome. A dietitian (an expert in food and nutrition) can draw up a dietary plan tailored to a person’s needs. This will ensure they are eating a healthy, nutritious and well-balanced diet.
- Social worker - People with Down syndrome may need help in overcoming social problems, such as finding accommodation or applying for financial benefits. A social worker will help them to do this, enabling them to live more independently.
- Audiologist - People with Down syndrome sometimes have hearing problems. An audiologist (an expert in diagnosing and treating hearing conditions) will monitor hearing to detect problems as soon as possible.
- Ophthalmologist and orthoptists - An ophthalmologist specialises in treating eye conditions. People with Down syndrome have an increased risk of developing eye problems, such as eye infections and cataracts. An orthoptist often works with an ophthalmologist to treat problems with eye movement and focusing ability, such as squints (strabismus) or ‘lazy eye’ (amblyopia).
- Paediatrician - A paediatrician is a doctor who specialises in treating children. They will often help to co-ordinate the different types of treatment your child needs.
- Cardiologist - A cardiologist is someone who specialises in diagnosing and treating heart conditions. People with Down syndrome may have an increased risk of developing heart problems, so their heart must be checked regularly.