Prior to or at conception, a pair of 21st chromosomes in either the sperm or the egg fails to separate. As the embryo develops, the extra chromosome replicates in every cell of the body. Mosaicism or mosaic Down syndrome exists when there are a mixture of two types of cells, some containing the usual 46 chromosomes and some containing The NDSS is just one place to look for programs nationwide.
Available programs start with interventions in infancy. Federal law requires that states offer therapy programs for qualifying families. In these programs, special education teachers and therapists will help your child learn:. Children with Down syndrome often meet age-related milestones. However, they may learn more slowly than other children. School is an important part of the life of a child with Down syndrome, regardless of intellectual ability.
Public and private schools support people with Down syndrome and their families with integrated classrooms and special education opportunities. Schooling allows valuable socialization and helps students with Down syndrome build important life skills.
The lifespan for people with Down syndrome has improved dramatically in recent decades. Today , life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has reached an average of 50 to 60 years. In addition to larger concerns — like heart defects and leukemia — people with Down syndrome may need to be guarded from common infections such as colds.
People with Down syndrome are living longer and richer lives now more than ever. Though they can often face a unique set of challenges, they can also overcome those obstacles and thrive. Building a strong support network of experienced professionals and understanding family and friends is crucial for the success of people with Down syndrome and their families. About Down syndrome Translations. Prenatal information The Down Syndrome Federation provides support and information for expecting parents.
New parents Many new parents find it is helpful to connect with another parent who has been through a similar experience. Education A quality education is vital for all children and an essential step on the pathway to adult life.
Employment Employment can fulfil the need for people with Down syndrome to be productive, independent, and to participate in mainstream life. Health and Wellbeing As recently as the s, life expectancy for people with Down syndrome was as low as 15 years of age.
Contact Us. Each cell contains chromosomes. These are like tiny threads that hold genes. For example, your genes say what colour eyes and hair you will have, and how tall you will be.
Usually, we get 23 chromosomes from our mother and 23 from our father. Down syndrome is named after Dr John Langdon Down who wrote about it in A syndrome is a group of different things that can happen in your body. A syndrome is not an illness or a disease. But sometimes you can have health problems and you might need support to do some things.
You might like to learn and read using pictures. Or you might be great at remembering things without writing them down.
You may be shorter than other people in your family. If you have Down syndrome, you may look a bit like other people with Down syndrome. But you will also look like your parents, brothers and sisters. Sometimes, parents will find out if their baby has Down syndrome before it is born. There are different kinds of tests parents will sometimes have when they are pregnant. The tests are to see if their baby has Down syndrome or other conditions.
They will also do blood tests to see if the baby has the extra 21 chromosome. This is a national phone number that links people to their local organisation. They can help with information and answer questions. They can organise for people to talk with a parent of a child with Down syndrome. New parents can find it helpful to talk to another parent of a child with Down syndrome. The state organisations will also tell new parents when family events are happening.
They can also give a New Parent Information Pack to new families. These are free. In about one third of these cases, the child has inherited the translocation from a parent.
In such a case the family may be referred to a genetic counselling service. Genetic tests can show what type of Down syndrome a baby has. Physical characteristics of Down syndrome There are a number of physical characteristics associated with Down syndrome, although each person with Down syndrome may display only a few of these. The most common physical characteristics include: slight upward slant of the eyes — nearly all people with Down syndrome have a slight upward slant of the eyes.
Children with Down syndrome tend to grow more slowly and are commonly smaller than other children their age. Adults with Down syndrome are commonly smaller than adults who do not have Down syndrome.
Down syndrome and delayed development Babies with Down syndrome reach the same developmental milestones such as smiling, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking and toileting as all babies, but with some degree of delay. Diagnosis of Down syndrome Down syndrome is usually recognisable at birth and confirmed by a blood test.
Prenatal tests that can help to detect Down syndrome in a fetus include: ultrasound scans maternal serum screening non-invasive prenatal testing NIPT amniocentesis chorionic villus sampling. Genetic counselling and support regarding Down syndrome Genetic counselling is available to parents in all states of Australia and may be helpful if screening suggests you may have a child with Down syndrome. Down syndrome today , Down Syndrome Victoria. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful?
Yes No. View all genetic conditions. Related information. From other websites Centre for Genetics Education. Down Syndrome Victoria. Genetic Support Network ofVictoria.
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