Down syndrome is the most common chromosome disorder in infants. Our multidisciplinary team includes experts in treating children with Down syndrome. We provide comprehensive care and help families manage complex medical and developmental needs. Our family-centered approach enables children to reach their full potential and eases stress on families.
DOWN'S SYNDROME
The Down Syndrome Clinic at Rehab Care is a family-centered clinic providing diagnostic and treatment services to children and adolescents with Down syndrome and their families.
Our team of developmental pediatricians, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, Physiotherapists and advanced practice nurses maintain a close working relationship with the child’s primary care physician throughout their care.
Improving Quality of Life for Children and Families
Children's National and Referring Pediatricians to Achieve
- Comprehensive medical assessment.
- Development diagnostic assessment.
- Coordination/monitoring of early intervention services.
- Specialty referrals
- Research into diagnosis and management for children with Down syndrome.
Treatment Therapies for children with Down’s syndrome
Early Intervention Programs
We use variety of therapies in early intervention programs and throughout a person’s life to promote the greatest possible development, independence, and productivity. Some of these therapies are listed in the following section.
Physical therapy includes activities and exercises that help build motor skills, increase muscle strength, and improve posture and balance.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is important, especially early in a child’s life, because physical abilities lay the foundation for other skills. The ability to turn over, crawl, and reach helps infants learn about the world around them and how to interact with it.
A physical therapist can also help a child with Down syndrome compensate for physical challenges, such as low muscle tone, in ways that avoid long-term problems. For example, a physical therapist might help a child establish an efficient walking pattern, rather than one that might lead to foot pain.
Speech-language therapy can help children with Down syndrome improve their communication skills and use language more effectively
- Children with Down syndrome often learn to speak later than their peers. A speech-language therapist can help them develop the early skills necessary for communication, such as imitating sounds. The therapist also may help an infant breastfeed because breastfeeding can strengthen muscles that are used for speech.
- In many cases, children with Down syndrome understand language and want to communicate before they can speak. A speech-language therapist can help a child use alternate means of communication, such as sign language and pictures, until he or she learns to speak.
- Learning to communicate is an ongoing process, so a person with Down syndrome may also benefit from speech and language therapy in school, as well as later in life. The therapist may help with conversation skills, pronunciation skills, understanding what is read (called comprehension), and learning and remembering words.
Occupational therapy helps find ways to adjust everyday tasks and conditions to match a person’s needs and abilities.
This type of therapy teaches self-care skills such as eating, getting dressed, writing, and using a computer.
An occupational therapist might offer special tools that can help improve everyday functioning, such as a pencil that is easier to grip.At the high school level, an occupational therapist could help teenagers identify jobs, careers, or skills that match their interests and strengths.
Emotional and behavioral therapies work to find useful responses to both desirable and undesirable behaviors. Children with Down syndrome may become frustrated because of difficulty communicating, may develop compulsive behaviors, and may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other mental health issues. These types of therapists try to understand why a child is acting out, create ways and strategies for avoiding or preventing these situations from occurring, and teach better or more positive ways to respond to situations.
A psychologist, counselor, or other mental health professional can help a child deal with emotions and build coping and interpersonal skills.
The changes in hormone levels that adolescents experience during puberty can cause them to become more aggressive. Behavioral therapists can help teenagers recognize their intense emotions and teach them healthy ways to reach a feeling of calmness.
Parents may also benefit from guidance on how to help a child with Down syndrome manage day-to-day challenges and reach his or her full potential.
