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July 12 Downs Syndrome Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver doing: "Angel Unaware"
Angel Unaware, that's what these Downs children are. Most folks though, don't know that, unless you've gotten to know one up close and personal. Alot of folks think that they're just someone to stare at, or to make fun of, different. They never learn the way they love others, the beautiful person that they truly are on the inside. I personaly think that they have a special connection with God. A connection that we, as so called "Normal Folks," can never achieve, at least not very often. If you have a chance, ever, to meet one, go up and talk to them, I'll bet that you will be surprised at how fast you will make a friend, not just a friend, but a friend that will love you instantly.
Thought you might be interested in reading this article on Downs Syndrome, maybe you know someone who have a "New Angel."
KidsHealth.org All KidsHealth.org News Down Syndrome July 12, 2006 02:55:01 AM PST This article continues at this address.
Yahoo! Health: Children's Health News
Maybe your child was just diagnosed with Down syndrome or you know a child who is affected by it. Or maybe you're pregnant and you've heard about prenatal testing for Down syndrome. Read on to learn all about one of the most frequently encountered chromosomal abnormalities, occurring in one of approximately every 800 to 1,000 live births.
Causes The most common cause of Down syndrome occurs when an infant is born with three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome (known medically as trisomy 21).
Normally there are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), half of which are inherited from each parent. Children with Down syndrome, however, have cells that usually contain not 46, but 47 chromosomes, the extra one being a third chromosome 21. It is this extra genetic material in infants with Down syndrome that disrupts their physical and cognitive development.
Why Down syndrome occurs is a mystery. It can happen to anyone. Scientists do know that women ages 35 and older have a significantly increased risk of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. A 35-year-old woman has a one in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome; by age 40 this jumps to about one in 100. By age 45 the odds are one in 30.
However, because younger women give birth more often, most babies with Down syndrome are still born to younger mothers. According to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), more than 250,000 people in the United States alone are affected.
Diagnosis and Characteristics Although not all Down syndrome infants share the same distinguishing physical characteristics - some may have traits to a larger or lesser degree - a preliminary diagnosis can usually be made at birth just by looking at the baby. If the attending physician suspects Down syndrome, a karyotype - a blood or tissue sample stained to show chromosomes grouped by size, number, and shape - will be performed to verify the diagnosis.
According to NDSS, the most familiar physical traits of Down syndrome include:
low muscle tone (muscle hypotonia) flat facial profile, including a somewhat depressed nasal bridge and small nose upward slant to the eyes (oblique palpebral fissures) abnormal shape and small size of the ears (dysplastic ears) single deep crease across the center of the palm (simian crease) excessive ability to extend the joints (joint hypermobility) fifth finger has one bending joint instead of two (dysplastic middle phalanx) small skin folds on the inner corners of the eyes (epicanthic folds) excessive space between large and second toe (sandal gap) enlargement of tongue in relationship to size of mouth Children with Down syndrome can exhibit these traits in varying degrees.
In addition to the characteristics above, half of the children born with Down syndrome have congenital heart defects. The majority of these defects can be corrected, resulting in long-term health improvements. Children with Down syndrome also tend to have increased susceptibility to infection, respiratory problems, obstructed digestive tracts (early in infancy), and childhood leukemia. Recent medical advances have made most of these health problems treatable, however, and people born with Down syndrome now have an average life expectancy of 55 years.
Development Children with Down syndrome have some developmental differences from the general population. They tend to be smaller than their peers and may gain weight easily, though a controlled diet and regular exercise can modify weight.
Mental retardation affects these children to varying degrees, but the typical range is from mild to moderate mental retardation. With help and intervention, less than 10% of children with Down syndrome will become severely retarded.
While children with Down syndrome continue to acquire physical and mental skills throughout their lives, their ability levels vary considerably. In general, their average rate of progress will be slower than ordinary children. Among the differences noted by NDSS are delays in gross motor skills, language skills, and personal/social skills.
Because speech may also be delayed, careful attention should be paid to a child's hearing. Retention of fluid in the inner ear is a common cause of hearing and speech problems.
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