Parenting a Child with Down Syndrome - Economics can be a big issue when it comes to parenting a child with Down syndrome. Many of the services that are needed for the child are not covered...
Speech and Language Treatments in Children with Down Syndrome
Positive Characteristics in People with Down Syndrome - Adults with Down syndrome are living to be well into their forties and are able to have jobs and to socialize. Some adults are able to live independently...
Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics for Down Syndrome - Maternal serum screening is the process of checking the mother’s blood for a combination of specific markers. The first of these markers is alpha-fetoprotein,...
Language is the cornerstone of communication for the Down syndrome child. Before the child can speak words correctly, he or she must first have words to speak and know how to use the words to communicate. The ability to communicate through language is developed through the ability to hear language. Children with Down syndrome have a difficult time hearing tones so it is important to asses the hearing abilities and determine the degree of tonal hearing impairment. Once the physical reasons for the tonal impairments are recognized and treated, language therapy can begin in the child. The physical defects that cause tonal impairment include a short Eustachian tube, slow tube drainage and chronic inner ear infections and fluid build up. These problems are routinely addressed in children with Down syndrome.
Puberty and Down Syndrome - During puberty, hygiene is extremely important for all young people. However, it is harder for the young people with Down syndrome to master the all...
Oral motor defect is the primary cause of speech difficulties in the child with Down syndrome. These children typically have weak oral muscle tone, poor tongue control, tongue thickening, high palates, enlarged tonsils, and poor lung capacity that can all delay their speech. These defects may not all be able to be corrected but they can be addressed and the child can be taught to speak in ways that “by-pass” these developmental problems.
Resources for Parents Raising Down Syndrome Children - The internet is a wealth of information and can be extremely helpful for parents who are initially navigating the maze of information regarding Down...
There has been a lot of research in recent years regarding children with Down syndrome and sign language. There have been many successful cases of children with Down syndrome learning sign language and being able to communicate effectively before the physical defects that delay speech and language are remedied. This enables the child to ultimately communicate at a near normal level. Sign language has the ability to accelerate speech and language learning for the Down syndrome child as well as to open doors to communication in the child with defects that cannot be overcome. Sign language can allow these children to communicate in a world where in the past they would not be able to speak or understand language.
There are many factors that determine the rate at which children with Down syndrome progress in their speech and language development. It is important for the parents and teachers to understand that slow progress in the child does not mean the child has little or no potential for learning. Parents need to work to provide their Down syndrome child with every learning advantage in order for the child’s full potential to be realized.
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