Down Syndrome Reality

Down syndrome was first discovered in 1866 by Doctor John Langdon Down. He first described Down syndrome as a neurological disorder, but he misunderstood how Down syndrome is caused. Another doctor by the name of Jerome Lejeune discovered the cause of Down syndrome in 1959. In the 20th century, many people with Down syndrome were killed and neglected. They were put in institutions and were subject to many experiments including lobotomies. But over the years society has been able to understand Down syndrome and has now started an effort to find a cure. In the United States today, Down syndrome affects over 400,000 people.

. Down syndrome is not a disease that someone catches and is not caused by difficulties during the pregnancy, it is a genetic condition. This condition is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in the body’s cells and causes a redundant amount of proteins to be formed. All cells of the body derive from a single cell formed by the fusion of a father’s sperm and a mother’s egg. Each cell carries a nucleus full of genetic material known as genes. These genes are inherited from both the mother and father. Each cell normally contains 46 pairs of chromosomes. 23 chromosomes come from one parent and 23 from the other, hence the 46 pairs. When it comes to children with down syndrome, one of the chromosomes does not separate properly and so the

Down syndrome occurs in people who were born with three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This extra genetic material is what brings about the effects of Down’s syndrome. It is often characterized by an impairment of cognitive (process of thought) ability. Most people with Down syndrome have lower than average, mild to moderate, cognitive ability and this cannot be predicted at birth. A smaller number fall into the severe impairment range. Physically, people with Down’s syndrome are smaller in stature, have less muscle tone, and have noticeably different facial features. The number of these births occurs approximately in one out of every one thousand (ndss.org). As of 2007, the number of people in the United States with Down syndrome stood at about 350,000. These numbers will shrink because now (most) potential parents can know the condition of the fetus early. This information is included to let the reader relate to the struggles that some with Down syndrome goes through.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that numerous individuals around the world suffer from; it is an intellectual disability that is caused by having one too many chromosome 21 copies, trisomy 21. The average person has two copies of chromosome 21 in each cell, whereas, an individual with Down syndrome has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This happens when either the sperm or egg cell undergoes atypical cell division during development. In the United States, there are approximately 400,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to the last census in 2012 (National Down Syndrome Society).

Individuals with Down syndrome are becoming increasingly integrated into society and community organizations, such as school, health care systems, work forces, and social and recreational activities. Individuals with Down syndrome possess varying degrees of cognitive delays, from very mild to severe. Most people with Down syndrome have cognitive delays that are mild to moderate.

There are three types of types of Down syndrome, with the most prevalent one being Trisomy 21 (www.ndss.org). The other two are Translocation

I. Attention Getter: Approximately one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, that makes approximately 6000 babies born each year with Down syndrome. Although physical and cognitive traits are affected by this genetic disorder, individuals can attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, have meaningful relationships, vote and contribute to society in many wonderful ways. II. Thesis: Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in the United States and it accounts for much of the learning disabilities found in children today (Staff 2014).

After trying for many years, a woman was successful in becoming pregnant. As a component of one of her routine pre-natal appointments, she was tested for fetal abnormalities. A blood test confirmed that her baby has Down syndrome and her physician recommended aborting the fetus. Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that leads to intellectual disability, weak muscle tone and a unique facial characteristic. Down syndrome children often have increased risks for heart defects and other medical conditions such as gastric reflux. Taking care of a child with Down syndrome can be both mentally and physically exhausting. Taking care of a child with Down syndrome can be equally rewarding.

Down syndrome doesn’t just show up during your life, you’re not going to just start noticing you have Down syndrome in the middle of your life or be diagnosed with it later on. You’re born with it; you have no way to get rid of it at any time. You can’t change it. Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is linked to intellectual disability. Each human should have 46 chromosomes, 23 from the father, and 23 from the mother. But whenever you have a child with Down syndrome they are born

Although there is no technique to prevent the onslaught of Down syndrome, it can nevertheless be identified prior to a child’s birth. Many of the health issues associated with this illness can be treated, and a multitude of resources can utilized

Mental Health with people with down syndrome varies all depending on the age and developmental characteristics of the person who has down syndrome. Young people who have down syndrome would have trouble with: Language, communication skills, and non- verbal's. Adolescents who have down syndrome deal more with: Depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. Adults with down syndrome deal with: Depression, anxiety, and

Down Syndrome is not commonly genetically passed down as opposed to what some may think, it happens by random. About 1% of the cases are heredity and 5% come from the father. Although, the risk of having a child diagnosed with down syndrome increase dramatically past the age of 35. “A 35-year-old woman has about a one in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in 100 by age 40.” (ndss)

A person that has Down syndrome may have some physical problems or disabilities. Some common physical problems are: short necks, poor muscle tone, a small head and an overall smaller body. Approximately one third of babies born with Down syndrome have heart defects, most of which are now

Those with Down syndrome often experience physical issues such as poor muscle tone and poor immune function (Carmeli, Kessel, Merrick, & Bar-Chad, 2014). Individuals who are born with Down syndrome often need extensive help making adult decisions throughout their lives, but the severity of cases varies heavily within individuals that have Down syndrome. Down syndrome has some clear physical features, but it also has a number of features that affect the individual; for instance, individuals with Down syndrome are more likely to experience problems with congenital heart disease (Glasson, Dye, & Bittles,

Down syndrome was named after John Langdon Down, who was the first person to discover Down syndrome. In the earlier years it was called Mongolism, which is no longer used because it is offensive to the Mongolians. James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker state “Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by an error in cell division that results in the presence of an additional third chromosome 21 or ‘trisomy 21’” (10). There are different types of Down Syndrome according to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), there is Trisomy 21, Mosaicism, and Translocation (What is Down syndrome?). There is no way to prevent having a baby with Down syndrome although chances increase as the woman gets older. The NDSS says, “A 35-year-old woman has about a 1 in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in 100 by age 40” (What is Down syndrome?). Although the risk is greater for older women, it is still possible to have a child with Down syndrome at a younger age.