TREATMENT FOR DOWN SYNDROME
Updated: Dec 7, 2021
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating Down syndrome. Treatments are tailored to each person's physical and mental requirements, as well as his or her specific strengths and weaknesses. While living at home and in the community, people with Down syndrome can receive sufficient care.
A team of health experts will likely care for a child with Down syndrome, including physicians, special educators, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers, among others. All workers who work with children with Down syndrome should encourage and stimulate them.
We have also created a detailed information guide on Down Syndrome that you can check out on our website as Down Syndrome Information Guide.
People with Down syndrome are at a higher risk for a variety of health issues and illnesses than people without the disorder. Many of these related diseases may necessitate urgent attention following birth, periodic treatment throughout childhood and adolescence, or long-term treatment throughout life. For example, a newborn with Down syndrome may require surgery to correct a heart abnormality a few days after birth, while a person with Down syndrome may have digestive issues that necessitate a lifelong special diet. From well-baby visits and normal vaccines as babies to reproductive counseling and cardiovascular care later in life, children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome require the same regular medical care as those without the disease. They, like everyone else, benefit from frequent physical activity and social interactions.
Educational Therapy and Early Intervention
Treatment Methodologies
Medications and Supplements
Assistive Technology
Early Intervention and Educational Therapy
Professionals provide a variety of specialized programs and resources to very young infants with Down syndrome and their families as part of "early intervention." Special educators, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers are examples of these specialists.
Early intervention appears to enhance outcomes for children with Down syndrome, according to research. This help can begin as soon as a kid is born and often lasts until the child reaches the age of three. Most children receive interventions and treatment through their local school district beyond that age.
The US Department of Education's National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center provides information and services for parents and families looking for early intervention programs.
According to the law, each kid must be taught in the least restrictive atmosphere possible. This does not imply that every child will be assigned to a normal classroom. Rather, educators will attempt to create an atmosphere that is tailored to the child's specific needs and abilities.
Those contemplating educational support services for a kid with Down syndrome may find the following material useful:
To be eligible for free special education programs, the kid must have certain cognitive or learning disabilities. Parents can find out how to get a kid examined to see if he or she qualifies for IDEA services by contacting a local school principal or special education coordinator.
If a child is eligible for special services, a team of people will collaborate to create an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Parents or caregivers, teachers, a school psychologist, and other specialists in child development or education may be part of the team. Based on an individual kids’ needs and skills, the IEP includes particular learning goals for that child. The committee also decides on the best way to implement the IEP.
Children with Down syndrome may be enrolled in a special needs school. Parents may have the option of sending their children to a school where the majority of the students do not have disabilities or to a school for children with special needs. Educators and health care providers can assist families in determining the ideal environment for their children. In recent decades, integration into a regular school has been far more widespread, and the IDEA mandates that public schools seek to maximize a child's access to ordinary learning experiences and relationships.
Treatment Therapies
To promote the greatest possible development, independence, and productivity, a variety of therapies can be used in early intervention programs and throughout a person's life. The following are a few of these treatments.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy consists of activities and exercises that help people improve their motor skills, muscle strength, posture, and balance.
Physical therapy is crucial, especially early in a child's life, because physical abilities serve as a foundation for other skills. Infants learn about the world around them and how to interact with it by being able to turn over, crawl, and reach.
A physical therapist can also assist a child with Down syndrome in compensating for physical challenges such as low muscle tone in ways that prevent long-term issues. A physical therapist, for example, could assist a child in developing an efficient walking pattern rather than one that causes foot pain.
Speech Language Therapy
Speech-language therapy can help children with Down syndrome communicate more effectively and improve their communication skills.
Down syndrome children typically learn to speak later than their peers. A speech-language therapist can assist them in developing early communication skills such as imitating sounds. Breastfeeding can strengthen muscles that are used for speech, so the therapist may assist an infant in doing so.
Before they can speak, many children with Down syndrome understand language and want to communicate. Until a child learns to speak, a speech-language therapist can help him or her communicate using alternative methods such as sign language and pictures.
Because communication is a lifelong process, a person with Down syndrome may benefit from speech and language therapy both in school and later in life. Conversation skills, pronunciation skills, comprehension (understanding what is read), and learning and remembering words are all areas where the therapist can assist.
You can check out our services for Speech Therapy.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy aids in the adjustment of daily tasks and conditions to meet the needs and abilities of a person.
Self-care skills such as eating, dressing, writing, and using a computer are taught in this type of therapy.
An occupational therapist may recommend special tools to help with daily tasks, such as a pencil that is easier to hold.
An occupational therapist in high school could assist teenagers in identifying jobs, careers, or skills that match their interests and strengths.
You can check out our services for Occupational Therapy.
Behavioral Therapy
Emotional and behavioral therapies aim to find practical solutions to both desirable and undesirable behaviors. Children with Down syndrome may become frustrated due to communication difficulties, develop compulsive behaviors, and suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other mental health problems. These therapists try to figure out why a child is acting out, devise methods and strategies for avoiding or preventing similar situations in the future, and teach better or more positive responses to situations.
A child can benefit from the assistance of a psychologist, counselor, or other mental health professionals in dealing with emotions and developing coping and interpersonal skills.
Adolescents' hormone levels fluctuate during puberty, which can cause them to become more aggressive. Behavioral therapists can assist teenagers in recognizing their strong emotions and teaching them healthy coping mechanisms.
Parents may also benefit from tips on how to help a child with Down syndrome cope with everyday challenges and achieve his or her full potential.
You can read more about Behavioural Therapy.
Drugs and Supplements
Some Down syndrome patients use amino acid supplements or medications that alter their brain function. Many recent clinical trials of these medicines, on the other hand, were poorly controlled and found negative side effects. Since then, other psychoactive medications have been produced that are far more targeted. However, no controlled clinical trials of these drugs for Down syndrome have shown that they are safe and effective.
Only a few people have participated in many investigations of medications to treat dementia symptoms in people with Down syndrome. The findings of these researchers have also failed to reveal any evident benefits of these medications. Antioxidants for dementia in people with Down syndrome have also been demonstrated to be safe but ineffective in studies.
Assistive Devices
Assistive devices—any form of material, equipment, tool, or technology that facilitates learning or makes tasks easier to complete—are becoming more common in interventions for children with Down syndrome. Amplification equipment for hearing issues, movement bands, special pencils to make writing simpler, touchscreen computers, and computers with large-letter keyboards are all examples.
Daffodil Health is creating an ecosystem to help families and parents of kids with special needs. In the same endeavor, we have launched parent training events and a marketplace for learning aids, toys, and much more.
Follow the link to know about all the Upcoming Parent Training Events.
Follow this link to look at all the products that can be helpful for your child.
Hope you find all the resources useful. If you want to contribute to Daffodil Health's mission or become a part of the team, please reach out to team@daffodilhealth.com. We would love to get you onboard and work together towards unlocking the 10% workforce potential.