Development Never Stops Even Through Adulthood

In years past, it was assumed that Down syndrome was a degenerative disorder. It was thought that there would be a slowing of the learning process and then eventually the loss of all previously acquired skills. Children with Down syndrome do progress more slowly in all areas of development but they do steadily progress and continually learn more skills. It has been proven that development is influenced by loving parents, effective therapy, inclusive education, and caring communities. This being said, most children with Down syndrome do not progress beyond the intellectual capabilities of the average 6-8 year old. Many of these adults do not even reach that level and it takes into adulthood to get there.

It is important to note that children with Down syndrome have different levels of disability and learning just as other children have different levels of learning. These children quickly realize that they need assistance from other people for many things and in the end come to depend on other people even for things, they can do. As adults, they will have the tendency to avoid any type of situation in which they may experience failure and will allow and even demand other people to do these things for them. Rather than doing for them it is important for the people around them to encourage the Down syndrome person to do things for themselves so that they will eventually learn and accomplish more.

One issue with adults with Down syndrome is that they age faster than the average adult does. Someone with Down’s in their twenties or thirties has a body that thinks it is the age of an adult who is in their forties to sixties. This accelerated aging causes a decline in development as these people get older. While their non-Down’s counterparts are still developing and learning, the child or adult with Down syndrome will age quickly and decline in rate of development.

The frequency with which children with Down syndrome apparently lose skills suggest that teaching efforts should focus not on the development of new skills but also on ensuring that these skills once acquired, are adequately put to good use. Psychological as well as biological influences determine what happens or does not happen in children with Down syndrome. It is important to understand that some children with Down syndrome succeed at mastering so much more than other children in the same situation master. In effect, it seems to be a fear of failure that causes these children and adults to stop learning and developing.

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