Can a child have Down syndrome without looking like it?

Some of the children with Mosaic Down syndrome that we know do not actually look as if they have Down syndrome - the usual physical features are not obvious. This raises some important and difficult social issues and identity issues for both parents and children, which parents have discussed with us.

Can a child be slightly Down syndrome?

Each person with Down syndrome is an individual — intellectual and developmental problems may be mild, moderate or severe. Some people are healthy while others have significant health problems such as serious heart defects.

Does Down syndrome always affect appearance?

People with Down syndrome often have a characteristic facial appearance that includes a flattened appearance to the face, outside corners of the eyes that point upward (upslanting palpebral fissures ), small ears, a short neck , and a tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth.

What does mild Down's syndrome look like?

Some common physical features of Down syndrome include: A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose. Almond-shaped eyes that slant up. A short neck.

Can you have Down syndrome features and not have it?

A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm – although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.

Down Syndrome Answers: What does Down syndrome look like?

Can a child have Down syndrome and look normal?

Misconception: People with Down syndrome all look alike.

For example, many but not all people with Down syndrome have almond-shaped eyes and a short stature. However, like typical people who share similar features, they look more like their families than each other.

Can you have Down syndrome and be smart?

scores for people with Down syndrome vary, with the average cognitive delays being mild to moderate, not severe. In fact, normal intelligence is possible.

What are soft signs of Down's syndrome?

Soft markers for Down syndrome may include any of the following: enlarged brain ventricles (ventriculomegaly) smaller-than-normal or absent nasal bone. increased thickness of the nuchal fold.

Is Down syndrome obvious at birth?

When a baby is born with Down syndrome, our care providers can usually tell right away from some similar physical characteristics, such as eyes that slant upward, a single crease across their palm, and a large gap between their first and second toes.

What are 5 features recognized in a Down's syndrome individual?

People with Down syndrome may have some or all of these physical characteristics: a small chin, slanted eyes, poor muscle tone, a flat nasal bridge, a single crease of the palm, and a protruding tongue due to a small mouth and relatively large tongue.

At what age does Down syndrome become evident?

Physical Examination. Down syndrome is usually quite evident as soon as a baby with the disorder is born, as many of its distinctive physical characteristics are present at birth.

What is the difference between Down syndrome and mosaic Down syndrome?

Mosaic Down syndrome, or mosaicism, is a rare form of Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that results in an extra copy of chromosome 21. People with mosaic Down syndrome have a mixture of cells. Some have two copies of chromosome 21, and some have three.

How do Down syndrome babies act?

At birth, babies with Down syndrome are often smaller than other newborns, and they tend to grow at a slower rate and remain shorter than their peers. Toddlers and older kids may have delays in speech and self-care skills like feeding, dressing, and using the toilet.

How do I know if my child has mosaic Down syndrome?

Typically, 20 different cells are analyzed in a chromosome study. A baby would be said to have mosaic Down syndrome if: 5 of the 20 cells have the typical number of 46 chromosomes. The other 15 have a total of 47 chromosomes due to an extra chromosome 21.

What are the 3 types of Down syndrome?

There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21 (nondisjunction), translocation and mosaicism. Trisomy 21 (nondisjunction) accounts for 95% of known cases of Down syndrome.

Is mild Down syndrome curable?

Down syndrome cannot be cured. Early treatment programs can help improve skills. They may include speech, physical, occupational, and/or educational therapy. With support and treatment, many people with Down syndrome live happy, productive lives.

Can Downs syndrome be missed?

About eight or nine out of 10 cases of Down syndrome are detected (classified as screen positive). This means that one or two out of 10 pregnancies with Down syndrome are missed (classified as screen negative).

Can Down syndrome go undiagnosed?

However, many individuals can go undiagnosed up into adulthood and there are still thousands who never receive a diagnosis. Mosaic Down syndrome can be found in 1-2% of individuals and is where some of the cells in the body are normal and other cells have trisomy 21.

How common is Down syndrome diagnosis at birth?

Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder. Each year, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome, which is about 1 in every 700 babies born.

Does Down syndrome come from mother or father?

To date, no behavioral activity of the parents or environmental factor is known to cause Down syndrome. After much research on these cell division errors, researchers know that: In the majority of cases, the extra copy of chromosome 21 comes from the mother in the egg.

What are hard markers for Down syndrome?

Certain features detected during a second trimester ultrasound exam are potential markers for Down's syndrome, and they include dilated brain ventricles, absent or small nose bone, increased thickness of the back of the neck, an abnormal artery to the upper extremities, bright spots in the heart, 'bright' bowels, mild ...

What is the most common defect associated with Down's syndrome?

Some of the conditions that occur more often among children with Down syndrome include: Heart defects. Almost one-half of babies with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common type of birth defect.

What is mild Down syndrome called?

When a baby is born with Down syndrome, the healthcare provider takes a blood sample to do a chromosome study. Mosaicism or mosaic Down syndrome is diagnosed when there is a mixture of two types of cells. Some have the usual 46 chromosomes and some have 47.

What is the highest IQ of a Down syndrome child?

Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary gives an average IQ of between 50 and 60 for Down's syndrome individuals although IQ scores of 120 have been found in some individuals with the syndrome.

Are people with Down syndrome allowed to drive?

Many people with Down Syndrome lead independent lives, this includes being able to drive. If a person with Down syndrome can read and pass a driver's education class and pass a road test, then they can get a driver's license.