| Rapid urbanization and spread in education in women | | | | ways, but most have mild to moderate intellectual |
| have one hand created a lot of progress in the | | | | impairment. Kids with Down Syndrome can and do |
| society but in its wake some unwanted conditions | | | | learn, and are capable of developing skills throughout |
| have also surfaced. The major change has come | | | | their lives. They simply reach goals at a different |
| upon the women of society who have progressed in | | | | pace - which is why it's important not to compare a |
| leaps and bounds. This has increased the age for | | | | child with DS against typically developing siblings or |
| marriage in most of the urban household. Today | | | | even other children with the condition. |
| getting married at 30 and having the first child after | | | | Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis |
| 35 is a common phenomenon. Though it has lot of | | | | It is suggested that if you are above 33 years of |
| advantages, one major disadvantage that has been | | | | age at the time of your first pregnancy, do get |
| seen, is to give birth to children with some or other | | | | these tests done to be free from any type of |
| physical or mental disability. | | | | anxiety... |
| Although it doesn't happen all the time and to | | | | Two types of prenatal tests are used to detect |
| everyone yet the risk does increase... | | | | Down syndrome in a fetus: screening tests and |
| The most common abnormality seen in late | | | | diagnostic tests. Screening tests estimate the risk |
| conception is Down Syndrome... it is the most | | | | that a fetus has Down Syndrome; diagnostic tests |
| common clinical cause of mental retardation in the | | | | can tell whether the fetus actually has the condition. |
| world. It occurs once in every 1,500-2,000 births | | | | Screening tests include:o Nuchal translucency testing. |
| when the mother's age is below 25; one in every 400 | | | | This test, performed between 11 and 14 weeks of |
| births when the mother's age is over 35; once in | | | | pregnancy,o The triple screen or quadruple screen |
| every 40 births when the mother's age is over 45. A | | | | (also called the multiple marker tests). These tests |
| mother with a child with Down syndrome has a | | | | are typically offered between 15 and 18 weeks of |
| one-in-25 chance of recurrence. | | | | pregnancy.o Integrated screen. This compares the |
| Here I'll try to tell a little about the Syndrome and the | | | | blood test reports of first and second trimester.o A |
| tests that are available to detect Down Syndrome | | | | genetic ultrasound. A detailed ultrasound is often |
| during pregnancy only. | | | | performed at 18 to 20 weeks in conjunction with the |
| The term Down syndrome is taken from the name | | | | blood tests, and it checks the fetus for some of the |
| of the English physician, Dr. John Langdon Down, who | | | | physical traits abnormalities associated with Down |
| is credited with first describing the condition in | | | | syndrome. |
| 1866.The individuals with Down syndrome possess | | | | Diagnostic tests include:o Chorionic villus sampling |
| additional genetic material in their cells, usually an | | | | (CVS). The advantage of this test is that it can be |
| extra chromosome | | | | performed during the first trimester, between 8 and |
| Some of the physical characteristics observed in | | | | 12 weeks. It carries some extra risk of miscarriage.o |
| persons with Down syndrome include the following:o | | | | Amniocentesis. This test, performed between 15 and |
| The back of the head is often flattened,o The | | | | 20 weeks of pregnancy, involves the removal of a |
| eyelids may be slightly slanted,o Small skin folds at | | | | small amount of amniotic fluid through a needle |
| the inner corners of the eyes may be present,o The | | | | inserted in the abdomen. The cells can then be |
| nasal bridge is slightly depressed, and the nose and | | | | analyzed for the presence of chromosomal |
| ears are usually somewhat smaller.o In the newborn | | | | abnormalities. Amniocentesis carries a small risk of |
| there is often an excess of skin at the back of the | | | | complications, such as pre-term labor and |
| neck.o The hands and feet are small and the | | | | miscarriage.o Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling |
| fingerprints are often different from normal children.o | | | | (PUBS). Usually performed after 20 weeks, this test |
| Their muscle strength and tone are usually reduced.o | | | | uses a needle to retrieve a small sample of blood |
| About one-third of children with Down syndrome | | | | from the umbilical cord. It carries risks similar to those |
| have congenital heart disease. | | | | associated with amniocentesis. |
| Affect of Down Syndrome:o All areas of | | | | Although most of the parents after knowing that the |
| development may be delayed in a child with Down | | | | fetus is suffering with Down syndrome go for |
| syndrome.o Poor muscle tone influences gross and | | | | abortion, I feel it's absolutely the parents choice to or |
| fine motor development but this can be improved | | | | not to go for Medical Termination of Pregnancy. |
| with physical therapyo language development delays | | | | Though it might cause them a little more effort to |
| due to muscle problems which can be improved by | | | | bring up their differently able child, it may be a real |
| language/speech therapyo Since mental retardation is | | | | joy for them to see the kid growing up. These kids |
| very common, higher integrative abilities such as the | | | | are any time more lovable and loving. They remain |
| ability to think abstractly and to form concepts are | | | | innocent all their life and THEY DO GROW UP AS |
| likely to be affected. | | | | ANY NORMAL CHILD MAY BE A LITTLE LATE. |
| With appropriate training, they can secure | | | | So if you are a proud parent of a child suffering from |
| employment, often in the competitive job market, | | | | Down Syndrome, Please don't take it as a curse but |
| especially through supported work programs. Down | | | | take it as a blessing from God!!! You do have a child |
| syndrome affects kids' ability to learn in different | | | | to love and care rather than without a kid. |