Down Syndrome & Cognitive Delays: Here’s What You Need To Know

A Quick Guide

Down syndrome is the most prevalent hereditary reason for intellectual disability, developmental delays, cognitive delays, and other medical problems. Approximately 1 in 700 children are affected by it. In this article, we will go through what Down syndrome is, its causes, and typical signs and symptoms.

What is Down syndrome?

When a child is born with an extra chromosome, they are genetically predisposed to developing Down syndrome. The additional chromosome has an impact on the child’s brain and physical development, which can result in intellectual disability, developmental delays, and a higher chance of developing certain medical conditions. As a mother becomes older, her baby is more likely to be born with Down syndrome:

• 1 out of 1,000 babies is born to women under the age of 30.
• One in every 400 babies is born to women over the age of 35, on average.
• One of every sixty babies is born to mothers over the age of 42.

Prenatal testing is a choice made by some prospective parents who want to know in advance if their unborn child will have Down syndrome. These optional pregnancy tests can determine a fetus’s gender, age, size, and location in the uterus. Additionally, they can spot newborn problems including Down syndrome, congenital heart defects, genetic illnesses, and others.

What are Down syndrome’s typical signs and symptoms?

People with Down syndrome may have different issues at various stages of their lives, and the symptoms of the condition vary from person to person.

Physical Signs

The following are typical physical indicators of Down syndrome:

• A single, deep crease along the length of the palm
• A small mouth, ears, and head
• A substantial groove runs between the first and second toes
• Eyes that are inclined upward and frequently have a skin fold covering the inner corner of the eye that protrudes from the top eyelid
• Reduced or weak muscular tone
• Short, wide hands with stubby fingers
• Skin hanging off the back of the neck on a short neck
• The colored region of the eye has white specks on it (called Brushfield spots)
• The nose and facial profile are flattened

Additionally, children with Down syndrome frequently develop physically more slowly than children without the condition. For instance, a kid with Down syndrome may take longer to learn how to sit, stand, turn over, and walk due to weak muscle tone. Children with Down syndrome can learn to take part in physical activity like other kids despite these disabilities.

Many developmental milestones will eventually be attained by children with Down syndrome, even though it may take them longer than normal kids to do so.

Developmental and intellectual symptoms

People with Down syndrome frequently experience cognitive delays, which range in severity from mild to moderate. Rarely are significant cognitive delays linked to Down syndrome.

Other typical behavioral issues and cognitive delays in Down Syndrome could be:

• Brief attention span
• Delayed speech and language development
• Impulsive actions
• Learning slowly
• Poor judgment

The majority of children with Down syndrome acquire the necessary communication abilities, albeit it may take them longer than it does for other kids. Furthermore, to promote expressive language and enhance speech, early, ongoing speech and language therapies are very beneficial.

The Effect of Down Syndrome on Learning

The main genetic contributor to intellectual disability is Down Syndrome. Although the severity of an intellectual disability varies across children with own Down Syndrome, there are consistent differences in a number of cognitive domains. These discrepancies fall under the category of executive function skills, which organize the abundance of information in our brains to enable learning, planning, and task completion.

Among the executive function abilities that Down Syndrome children frequently struggle with are:

• Asking for assistance, also known as “self-monitoring,” makes it challenging for kids with Down Syndrome to keep track of how an activity is going and decide whether to seek clarification or support.
• Attention gets in the way of learning how to sequence actions to effectively learn multi-step abilities and maintain focus on a task such as self-care routines like getting dressed.
• Changing one’s mindset makes it challenging to switch between two activities. Putting your attention on a game, for instance, getting distracted by a noise, and then returning to the game.
• Children with Down Syndrome frequently have difficulty distinguishing between what is relevant and what is unimportant.
• Information organization and information filtering are made challenging by inhibitory control.
• Planning and organizing get in the way of learning and applying problem-solving techniques.
• The short-term verbal memory obstructs listening-based learning. For children with Down Syndrome, using pictures is crucial because of this.

What causes Down syndrome?

When a child has an additional set of chromosome 21, they are likely to develop the genetic disorder known as down syndrome.

Every human cell has chromosomes, which are structures containing DNA. These microscopic structures that children take from their parents have a significant impact on how a baby develops, affecting things like height, skin tone, and hair type.

A mother’s egg and a father’s sperm typically begin with 23 chromosomes apiece. A child receives 23 chromosomes from each parent when the egg and sperm unite during conception, giving them a total of 46 chromosomes.

In people with Down syndrome, a change in cell division results in an extra copy of chromosome 21 in the egg or sperm. Although the likelihood of this happening rises with maternal age, scientists are still unaware of what triggers the cells to divide in this way. If this egg or sperm is fertilized, the result is a child with trisomy 21 or three copies of chromosome 21. The health and developmental problems associated with Down syndrome are caused by this excess genetic material.

Associated Conditions and Disorders

People with Down syndrome are more likely to have a number of different health issues, such as:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Hearing loss
• Heart abnormalities
• Hormonal and glandular issues
• Visual issues

A congenital heart defect, a structural issue with the heart that arises during pregnancy, affects about half of all newborns. Pulmonary hypertension, which can result in long-term lung damage if left untreated, is a disorder that frequently affects kids with heart problems.

Cognitive Strengths of Children with Down Syndrome

Children with Down Syndrome have cognitive strengths as well, such as the ability to learn effectively through observation, despite the frequent difficulties stated above. They observe what is going on around them and are prepared to replicate it in order to benefit from it. Since they are positively reinforced, praising all of their successes will help to keep them motivated. Additionally, children with Down syndrome are great visual learners, so employing visual cues like images or gestures is crucial even when their short-term verbal memory may be impaired.

The Influence of Routines

Routines help all kids learn, but they can be especially effective for kids with Down Syndrome. Knowing what to anticipate helps ease anxiety and improve memory. Hence, to encourage your child to feel capable and secure, keep everyday tasks arranged in predictable phases. Make a list of the steps to brushing your teeth, for instance, and hang it on the bathroom mirror.

When it is time for school

One method to get your kid ready for school is to encourage their early learning, but another important factor in preparing for school is their social and emotional growth. 

What is the prognosis in the long run for kids with Down syndrome?

Since the turn of the 20th century, the average lifespan of those with Down syndrome has grown significantly. People with Down syndrome typically live to be between 55 and 60 years old, while some reach their 70s or 80s. Many kids with Down syndrome learn and develop well with the aid of appropriate educational programs and assistance. More and more individuals with Down syndrome complete their high school education. After graduating from high school, many young adults with Down syndrome work in the community and some enroll in college courses. Several adults with Down syndrome live independently, in community-based homes, or in supported living situations where, depending on their needs, they can receive additional care.

Learn more about Early Intervention For Children With Down Syndrome.

We hope you found this article useful in learning more about Down Syndrome and Cognitive delays.