What should you not say to someone with Down syndrome?

Describing the condition as “Down's”, i.e. “He has Down's,” or a child as a “Down's child” should also be avoided. Referring to a disability first is one of the most common misstatements, so it is important to always remember to use “person first” language and teach others to do the same.


What do you say to someone with Down syndrome?

Use plain, everyday language. Speak with respect. Don't try to guess how much the person can or can't understand. Assume the person can understand and reply to you.

How do you show respect to someone with Down syndrome?

Use people first language; say that someone is a “person with Down syndrome,” “has Down syndrome” or “is living with Down syndrome.” Do not say “Down person” or that a person “suffers from” or is “afflicted with” Down syndrome.


How do you comfort someone with Down syndrome?

Do
  1. praise them when they learn something new.
  2. speak clearly and calmly so they can learn from you.
  3. play, sing songs and read books together to help with sounds and words.
  4. try showing them how to do something instead of just giving instructions – this can be easier to follow.


What is the average lifespan of a Downs syndrome person?

1. Today the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome is approximately 60 years. As recently as 1983, the average lifespan of a person with Down syndrome was 25 years.


Understanding and Expression of Language in Down Syndrome



What is the most common cause of death in Down syndrome?

Heart and lung diseases are the leading causes of death for persons with Down syndrome. Pneumonia and infectious lung disease, congenital heart defect (CHD) and circulatory disease (vascular diseases not including CHD or ischaemic heart disease) account for ∼75% of all deaths in persons with Down syndrome.

What gender is Down syndrome most common in?

Although women older than 35 years of age make up a small portion of all births6 in the United States each year, about nearly one-half of babies with Down syndrome are born to women in this age group. This likelihood increases as age increases.

What are the positives of Down syndrome?

A number of developmental researchers have identified that children with Down syndrome have a strength in early social development, particularly being interested in, relating to and interacting with people.


Do kids with Down syndrome understand death?

Some people have a misconception that people with Down syndrome don't have feelings about a significant loss because they don't understand what happened. This is not true.

How do you discipline Down syndrome?

Children with Down's Syndrome often have difficulty receiving and remembering verbal instructions. Sticking with a system and talking them through in short statements of direction can greatly reduce negative behavior. Visual schedules are also recommended.

What behaviors are associated with Down syndrome?

The most common mental health concerns in individuals with Down syndrome include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, oppositional behaviors, depression, and tic disorder.


How do adults with Down syndrome behave?

As adults with Down syndrome grow older, there is increased risk of experiencing certain common mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and behavioral disturbances. A sudden or abrupt change in mood or behavior patterns warrants further investigation.

How does Down syndrome affect a family emotionally?

Some felt that their brother or sister with Down syndrome was a burden on their own lives and these siblings also had higher behavior problems. Many were also more likely to have perceived themselves as different to their peers in the amount of help they gave with caretaking activities - either more or less.

Why can't people with Down syndrome speak?

Children with Down Syndrome commonly experience feeding, swallowing and speech difficulties due to anatomical and physiological differences in their mouth area. These differences include a high arched palate, small upper jaw as well as low muscle tone in the tongue and weak oral muscles.


Do people with Down syndrome struggle with communication?

The most common communication problems for adults with Down syndrome are that their speech may be difficult to understand (speech intelligibility) and that they have difficulty with long conversations, with telling about what happened to them or retelling a story, and with asking for specific clarifications when they ...

What do you say when someone tells you their baby has Down syndrome?

What is the best way to respond when a friend/family member tells you their new baby has Down Syndrome (DS)? “Congratulations!” Your friend/family member is welcoming a new baby. Telling them congratulations like you would to any new parent shows acceptance, which is so important to new parents.

Does Down syndrome run in mom or dad?

Both men and women can pass the genetic translocation for Down syndrome on to their children. Having had one child with Down syndrome. Parents who have one child with Down syndrome and parents who have a translocation themselves are at an increased risk of having another child with Down syndrome.


Are Down syndrome kids violent?

It has been speculated that there is a personality/behavioural phenotype among people with Down's syndrome, although research has been inconclusive. There is little evidence to support severe psychotic disturbance and aggressive behaviours being common in the Down's syndrome population.

Can Down syndrome parents have a normal child?

Misconception: People who have Down syndrome cannot have children. Reality: It's true that a person with Down syndrome may have significant challenges in rearing a child. But women who have Down syndrome are fertile and can give birth to children.

Why are Down's syndrome people so happy?

Many people think that people with Down's syndrome are always happy and loving because often this is their own experience of them. However, people with Down's syndrome experience the same range of feelings and moods as everyone else. Myth 4: People with Down's syndrome don't live as long as other people.


How much money do you get for a child with Down syndrome?

This can translate to up to $3,000 a month in financial benefits, if eligible. Few things can make such a big difference in the lives of a family as the ability to give your child with special needs the full care he or she deserves, without endangering your family finances.

Can people with Down syndrome live alone?

There are more possibilities than ever for adults with Down syndrome to live independent and fulfilled lives. While many adults with Down syndrome continue living with their parents, many express the desire to live independently so that they have their own sense of freedom.

What race is most affected by Down syndrome?

Down Syndrome rates increased over time among individuals who identify as Black, Hispanic, or AIAN, but not among white or Asian individuals.


What are the 4 types of Down syndrome?

Types of Down Syndrome
  • Trisomy 21: About 95% of people with Down syndrome have Trisomy 21. ...
  • Translocation Down syndrome: This type accounts for a small percentage of people with Down syndrome (about 3%). ...
  • Mosaic Down syndrome: This type affects about 2% of the people with Down syndrome.


Which mother has the highest probability of having a child with Down syndrome?

Maternal age is the only factor that has been linked to an increased chance of having a baby with Down syndrome resulting from nondisjunction or mosaicism. However, due to higher birth rates in younger women, 51% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age. (De Graaf et al., 2022).