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

Early Intervention and Education

The term "early intervention" refers to an array of specialized programs and related resources that are made available by health care professionals to the child with Down syndrome. These health care professionals may include special educators, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. It is recommended that stimulation and encouragement be provided to children with Down syndrome.

The evaluation of early intervention programs for children with Down syndrome is difficult, due to the wide variety of experimental designs used in interventions, the limited existing measures available that chart the progress of disabled infants, and the tremendous variability in the developmental progress among children with Down syndrome, a consequence in part of the many complicating medical factors. While many studies have been conducted to assess the effects of early intervention, the information is limited and contradictory regarding the long-term success of early intervention for children with Down syndrome.

However, federal laws (Public Law 94-142) are in place to ensure each state has as a goal that "all handicapped children have available to them a free public education and related services designed to meet their unique needs." The decision of what type of school a child with Down syndrome should attend is an important one, made by the parents in consultation with health and education professionals. A parent must decide between enrolling the child in a school where most of the children do not have disabilities (inclusion) or sending the child to a school for children with special needs. Inclusion has become more common over the past decade.

Adolescence with Down Syndrome

Like all teenagers, individuals with Down syndrome undergo hormonal changes during adolescence. Therefore, teenagers with Down syndrome should be educated about their sexual drives. Scientists have medical evidence that males with Down syndrome generally have a reduced sperm count and rarely father children. Females with Down syndrome have regular menstrual periods and are capable of becoming pregnant and carrying a baby to term.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Amniocentesis - Learn about amniocentesis, a procedure that examines the chromosomes of the fetus to determine lung maturity, and the possiblities of birth defects.
• Leukemia - Get the facts on leukemia (cancer of the bone marrow, blood) causes, symptoms, signs, types (hairy cell, chronic/acute lymphocytic or myeloid), research, treatment information and side effects.
• Detecting Hearing Loss in Children - Read about tests used for identifying hearing loss in children, treatment information, causes, risk factors and signs of hearing impairment, and learn about degrees of hearing loss.

Read more Down Syndrome related articles »

Latest Medical News

• CDC Study Links 2 Antibiotics to Birth Defects
• Do Pesticides Make Birth Defects Crop Up?
• Men Must Contend With a Biological Clock, Too
• Does Breastfeeding Boost IQ?