In this Article

• Introduction to Down syndrome
• The Chromosomal Basis of Down syndrome
• Signs and Symptoms of Down Syndrome
• The Occurrence of Down syndrome
• Prenatal Screening and Diagnostic Testing
• A Diagnosis of Down Syndrome
• Down Syndrome and Associated Medical Disorders
• Newborns
• Infants and Preschool Children
• Early Intervention and Education
• Adolescence and Down syndrome
• Adults with Down syndrome
• Down Syndrome in the Workplace
• Future Research in Down Syndrome
• Questions and Answers About Down Syndrome
• Additional Resources for Information on Down Syndrome
• Down Syndrome Glossary
• Down Syndrome Index

Signs and Symptoms of Down Syndrome

Even though people with Down syndrome may have some physical and mental features in common, symptoms of Down syndrome can range from mild to severe. Usually, mental development and physical development are slower in people with Down syndrome than in those without the condition.

Mental retardation is a disability that causes limits on intellectual abilities and adaptive behaviors (conceptual, social, and practical skills people use to function in everyday lives). Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation. They may have delayed language development and slow motor development.

Some common physical signs of Down syndrome include:

• Flat face with an upward slant to the eye, short neck, and abnormally shaped ears
  
  
• Deep crease in the palm of the hand
  
  
• White spots on the iris of the eye
  
  
• Poor muscle tone, loose ligaments
  
  
• Small hands and feet

There are a variety of other health conditions that are often seen in people who have Down syndrome, including:

• Congenital heart disease
  
  
• Hearing problems
  
  
• Intestinal problems, such as blocked small bowel or esophagus
  
  
• Celiac disease
  
  
• Eye problems, such as cataracts
  
  
• Thyroid dysfunctions
  
  
• Skeletal problems
  
  
• Dementia - similar to Alzheimer's

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