Can a child with Down syndrome be smart?

 THE FIRST INDIAN COUPLE TO ADOPT CHILD WITH DOWNS SYNDROME

It’s no secret that people with Down syndrome are not always fully embraced by society. Even in the wealthiest, most advanced parts of the world, prejudice of this kind continues to persist, and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. But wherever there is prejudice, there are those who stand up against it, and there are multiple examples of people who have torn down barriers and broken glass ceilings for people with Down syndrome all over the world.

From acting and modelling to politics and philanthropy, there are great achievers with Down syndrome who amaze us with their skills and positive outlook on life. 

Down syndrome affects 23,000-29,000 children born in India every year. Though the numbers are alarming but there is very little open dialogue on this topic in India. About 95 percent of the time, Down syndrome is caused by trisomy 21 — the person has three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two copies, in all cells. This is caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell. There are no known behavioral or environmental factors that cause Down syndrome.

Each person with Down syndrome is an individual — intellectual and developmental problems may be mild, moderate or severe. Some people are healthy while others have significant health problems such as serious heart defects.

 Children and adults with Down syndrome have distinct facial features. Though not all people with Down syndrome have the same features, some of the more common features include Flattened face, Small head, Short neck, Protruding tongue, Upward slanting eye lids (palpebral fissures), Unusually shaped or small ears, Poor muscle tone, Broad short hands with a single crease in the palm, Relatively short fingers and small hands and feet, Excessive flexibility, Tiny white spots on the coloured part (iris) of the eye called Brush field’s spots, Short height.

Infants with Down syndrome may be average size, but typically they grow slowly and remain shorter than other children of the same age. Most children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Language is delayed, and both short and long-term memory is affected.

Down syndrome varies in severity among individuals, causing lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays. Better understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions can greatly increase the quality of life for children and adults with this disorder and help them live fulfilling lives.

The most common early intervention services for babies with Down syndrome are physical therapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. The goal of early intervention programs is to enhance and accelerate development by building on a child's strengths and by strengthening those areas that are weaker, in all areas of development.

Adolescence is a time for growth and progress for all teenagers, including those with Down syndrome, and there is much that we can do, as parents, teachers and carers, to continue to encourage independence and learning for these children. One of the most important issues is to recognise and respect the chronological age of each teenager with Down syndrome and to recognise that their social and emotional needs are largely age-appropriate, despite their language and cognitive delays. Their social understanding is usually more advanced than most people around them recognise.

 Teenagers with Down syndrome reach puberty at the same age as everyone else. They leave school and move on through life on the basis of their chronological age. As adults, they want the same things as everyone else, a home of their own with privacy, choice and dignity, useful employment and friends, partners and a social life, and access to all community facilities. We need to have this vision of a right to an adult life and see these teenagers as on their way to adulthood like everyone else - we have to help each one of them to achieve his or her full potential.

There are different support group programs which help teach parents how to interact with their infant and toddler, how to meet their child's specific needs, and how to enhance development.

If I were to describe what it would be like if people with Down syndrome ruled the world, everyone would become very accustomed to the joys of hugging. Speed would be far less important than doing the job right. Work would be everyone’s right, not a privilege. Music and dancing would have been everyday regime. People would not hurt the feelings of others and they would also not lie or keep secrets.

By

Dr. Mona Shah

Occupational Therapist , Clinical Psychologist