Medical

Member Login

Medical Conditions

Common Medical Conditions and Behavioral Impact in Children with Down Syndrome

red-on-maroon, 1959 Mark RothkoSeizures
In Down syndrome, the incidence of seizures during the first year of life approaches 3-5%, especially infantile spasms.  DS infants with difficult-to-control IS or those in whom recognition and treatment is delayed frequently have a poorer developmental outcome. Rarely, tonic-clonic seizures or myoclonus, are encountered beyond the first year.  Compared to their typical DS peers, young children with DS + IS... Read more

Parenting Children with Complex Needs

Black CrossParenting a Child with Down Syndrome and Complex Needs

By any definition Down syndrome is a complex condition. Individually, children with Down syndrome can differ markedly from one another in their medical, developmental and behavioral attributes. We recognize that some children/families have especially complex needs because of the particular constellation of medical-developmental-behavioral challenges they face. Parenting requires significantly greater physical and emotional energy, problem-solving and planning skills, more time for medical and therapy appointments, requests for very specific types of information, ...Read more

Medical Conditions

Red CrossMedical Conditions Which Impact Behavior in Children with Down Syndrome
 
Structural Cardiac Disorders
Peak occurrence in utero -1 month of age
Incidence in DS 40-50%
Current screening practice: Echocardiogram at birth
 
Structural cardiac defects (atrioventricular canal, ventricular septal defect, Tetrology of Fallot) are responsible for significant morbidity until surgical repair can be achieved. In infants CHD is often associated with congestive heart failure, fluid overload, respiratory distress, fatigue, weight gain, pulmonary ...Read more

Sleep Concerns

 Sleep Concerns in Children with Down Syndrome
 
Sleep, behavior and mental health are all intimately related and can influence each other. The relationship between sleep and behavior is complex and causality runs in both directions. Children with Down syndrome (DS) who have high levels of activity or anxiety may display difficult behavior with bedtime routines. Such children are more likely to have insomnia and problems initiating and/or maintaining consistently restful or restorative sleep. In turn, poor quality sleep can exacerbate existing problems...Read more
Subscribe to RSS - Medical