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Down Syndrome HealthDown Syndrome Health Related Issues Below we will briefly describe some of the more common health issues that may face a person with Down Syndrome. Keep in mind that in Down Syndrome health issues can vary greatly from person to person. Some babies may only have minor problems and some more serious ones. Fortunately, today most of the medical conditions babies with Down Syndrome are born with can be treated medically or surgically. Eyes Nearly fifty percent of children with Down Syndrome have some form of eye or vision problem. The most common of these are near or far-sightedness and being cross-eyed. Children with Down Syndrome are more prone to developing colds and infections because their immune system does not function quite as well as in other children. This can lead to fluid build up in the middle ear and subsequently to hearing problems. There are basically two types of hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and neural hearing loss. The type of hearing loss caused by fluid build up is conductive. As conductive hearing loss can usually be reversed fairly easily, it is very important that your child have regular hearing tests and check ups. (My personal opinion: If you pediatrician or ENT does not see the need for hearing checks every six months to a year - run!) Hearing is so very important for the development of speech and language. Another personal note - It seems that Sam becomes more vocal and his pre-speech sounds become more clear after he has a new set of tubes placed in his ears.
Thyroid More than fifty percent of children with Down Syndrome have a condition known as hypothyroidism. This means that the thyroid gland is a bit sluggish. Hypothyroidism is usually treated successfully with medications.
People with Down Syndrome also seem to have an increased incidence of Celiac Disease.They also appear to be more prone to having seizures. In Down Syndrome health issues should be addressed as soon as they come up. Your child should be healthy as possible in order to ensure optimal learning conditions. Our children already have to work harder to learn things. It follows then, that if they are not feeling well, they will not learn as well. Personally Speaking: With Sam we were very lucky, he did not have any of the major Down Syndrome health related issues, just some minor ones. He had a small VSD (hole in his heart) which closed up on its own. He had gastroesophageal reflux. This was effectively treated with medications. He had a small cleft in his soft palate, which also did not pose any major problems. We used special bottles, called Habermann Feeders, to feed him. At six months he had the cleft repaired. End of story. Our biggest battle has been keeping his ears clear, and with regular visits to the ENT we are accomplishing that as well. In conclusion, in Down Syndrome the health issues that are faced, are usually very treatable. Once these conditions are treated (not necessarily gone, but under control) the child will be much more ready and able to tackle the tasks of learning. For more in depth reading about Down Syndrome and health conditions go here for a recommended reading list. Home
**The information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Rather, it is for educational and informational purposes only. You, the viewer, are responsible for obtaining health care for your child from his/her physician and other health care specialists. Always consult with your child's doctor before beginning any therapy programs.**
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