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Collin Watt
Ms. T. Plemmons
English IV
March 9, 2017
Down Syndrome is the disorder resulting from a partial or complete copy of the 21st
chromosome. In fact, another name for Down Syndrome is Trisomy 21. It affects nearly 1 in 700
Americans, and it crosses all racial and economic boundaries. Down Syndrome is an inherently
complicated disease to treat with potentially over 300 misappropriated genes on that 21st
disorder that causes intellectual and developmental delays. The treatment can be as simple as
Although many people probably know someone in their life that has Down Syndrome
most do not know the exact cause. Down Syndrome occurs when the 21st chromosome
experiences abnormal cell division. Even your everyday couple could pass along this genetic
disease. A father or mother or just the mother could have rearranged genetic material, but no
extra genetic material. This is known as being a blended carrier. A blended carrier has the ability
to pass along the extra genetic material, but shows no sign of Down Syndrome. Normally there
are 23 pairs of chromosomes, the father gives one half and the mother gives the other (Down
Syndrome Treatment).
There are 3 genetic variations that cause Down Syndrome: Trisomy 21, Mosaic Down
Syndrome, and Translocation Down Syndrome. Trisomy 21 is what 95% of people with Down
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Syndrome have. Trisomy ( or 3 copies) of the 21st chromosome is caused during cell division in
either the sperm cell or the egg cell. Mosaic Down Syndrome causes people to have only some
cells that are attached by the extra copy at the 21st cell this comes after fertilization abnormal
cell division. Translocation Down Syndrome is characterized by part of the 21st chromosome
attached (translocated) to another chromosome and the only form of the disorder that can be
passed from parent to child (Down Syndrome Treatment). The chance of passing on the
translocation depends on the sex of the parent who carries the rearranged chromosome 21. If the
father is the carrier risk is about 3 percent. If the mother is the carrier, the risk is between 10 and
15 percent (Down Syndrome Causes). Since there are several different kinds of Down
Syndrome and many degrees of each of these three kinds, one can never really tell how affected
There are many medical conditions that people of all ages with Down Syndrome can
have. Each case of Down Syndrome is different, they can have one condition or many. One
such symptom related with Down Syndrome is an underdeveloped cerebellum, the portion of the
brain that is essential to motor control and spacial awareness. Smaller cerebellum are observed in
both affected human and mouse models ("Symptoms of Down Syndrome Alleviated") (see
illustration). According to previous findings, this may have been caused by the retardation in cell
division in precursor cells in the first days of birth (Symptoms of Down Syndrome Alleviated).
Many people know that people with Down Syndrome can suffer from obesity; however, there are
also many other medical conditions associated with Down Syndrome. Blocked esophagus and
small bowel are more common, as is a blockage of the airway due to soft tissues and skeletal
changes. This can also lead to obstructive sleep apnea. In Down Syndrome dementia, and
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alzheimers is a greater risk around the age of 50. Typically people with Down Syndrome live to
be about 60 years old. Hearing problems affect about 60%("Symptoms of Down Syndrome
Alleviated"). Since people with Down Syndrome have difficulty maintaining good oral hygiene,
dental problems are very common for them. Shortened roots and periodontal issues lead to teeth
becoming loose. Heart defects/complications can be life threatening and may require surgery.
Thyroid issues are more common in children, mainly hypothyroidism. Some children also suffer
from Leukemia. Children with Down Syndrome may suffer from issues with their vision. 3% of
infants have cataracts also cross eye, nearsightedness, and farsightedness ("Symptoms of Down
Syndrome Alleviated"). As one can see there are many different levels of medical issues with
Down Syndrome. There are so many medical issues that could be present as well as different
degrees of those medical issues, the combinations of the complications of Down Syndrome are
really endless.
In addition to the many medical issues, children with Down Syndrome can also encounter
many difficulties in learning. There are two kinds of expressive difficulties. First is an extreme
difficulty producing clear speech, second is producing correct grammar and sentence structures.
All areas of development are differently affected. In Down Syndrome, it seems there are
different patterns of learning difficulties. These patterns can assist teachers and care takers in
acquiring more effective teaching approaches and therapies. Down Syndrome children learn
more slowly, progression from the beginning stage of teaching a skill to mastery of that skill is
delayed ("Development and Learning for People with Down Syndrome"). Researchers are
working on a treatment called SAG that enables growth to aid in hippocampal and cerebellum
development. SAG was also found to increases synaptic performance, all while showing no
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evidence of tumor development which could be a side effect ("Symptoms of Down Syndrome
Alleviated"). A majority of children with Down Syndrome have a difficult time using their
number skills. On average their number skills are two years behind their reading skills. Studies
have suggested that when teaching a child with Down Syndrome, dont forget that it is better to
use spoken information to get them to associate a word with an object to help them recall
previous information. This study has found when pictures, gestures or objects are used to
demonstrate or project information the teaching will be more effective. There have been studies
done that have found that people with Down Syndrome learn better through visual stimuli. The
The key to effective teaching through different approaches and therapies is understanding this
developmental profile for each child ("Development and Learning for People with Down
Syndrome").
It has been suggested that children with Down Syndrome might benefit from medical
treatment that includes amino acid supplements, and a drug known as Piractam. Piractam is a
drug that some believe may improve the ability of the brain to learn and understand. However,
there have been no clinical studies with Piractam to date in the US or elsewhere that show its
those who thought there would never be medications to help. It is easy to see that teaching
children or people who have Down Syndrome can be a challenge, there are many rewards that
come from having them be around, and from interacting with them.
Carole Hawkinson has been in the trenches with Down Syndrome for the past 26 years,
and has real world knowledge into real world experiences. There were other children through
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the adoption agency, Bethany Christian Services, with Down Syndrome that our family met and
they were great kids. There were already 3 normal kids in the family, Caroles family felt lead
to give a child with Down Syndrome a chance to have a good home when it might otherwise be
left in an orphanage. The family actually told the adoption agency we want a child that
otherwise would not get a chance to be adopted(Hawkinson, Carole) (see illustration). Raising a
child with Down Syndrome can be a challenge, every single day. Some children with Down
Syndrome are pretty easy to raise, some do not have any behaviors that make them tough in
the literal sense, though most Down kids can be stubborn! It is a big responsibility to see to it
that they get the right opportunities, are included at church and other places and that they are
pushed to keep growing and developing skills no matter how old they get. It is also a challenge
to keep track of them and keep them safe at all times, a caretaker should always be thinking
about them as toddlers in adult bodies. Most have some knowledge but only enough to be
dangerously trusting of everybody. Most do not have enough knowledge to know the bad things
that could happen to them. People with Down Syndrome can be very healthy. Jamie suffered
from shortened tooth roots so Jamie had to have all remaining teeth removed and got dentures at
the age of 27. Jamie also wears glasses.Although it is not clear how, exactly, doctors test
Jamies eyes since he does not communicate well, they do help Jamie see because the first time
he walked into a store with his new glasses on he made so many comments about all the things
that he was seeing, it seemed as if he was seeing them for the first time (Hawkinson, Carole).
Even though Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes intellectual and
developmental delays the treatment for this disorder can be as simple as helping to complete
everyday challenges. Learning how to interact, live with and how to best teach people with
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Down Syndrome seems to be the best way to get along with and understand more about each
individual to help them become the best they can be. Advancements in medicine may get to the
point where these children can have medical and learning limitations reduced in the future.
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("Submit Homework/Assignment")
(Hawkinson, Carole)
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Work Cited
"Development and Learning for People with Down SyndromeS." For People with Down
"Down Syndrome Causes." Mayo Clinic. N.p., 19 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.
"Down Syndrome Treatment." My Child Without Limits RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.
"Symptoms of Down Syndrome Alleviated." N.p., 12 Sept. 13. Web. 17 Feb. 17.