Down Syndrome And The Role of Occupational Therapy

Wiki Article

When parents learn that their newborn has Down syndrome, they cannot help but feel devastated. To them, it might seem that their infant was created a lesser being rather than a healthy babe. Seeing the physical manifestations of the genetic condition renders all parents anxious when it comes to bringing up a child who has it. But there's you should not despair. Many people with Down syndrome are healthy. Some head to school, enjoy sports, and socialize. But some might require medical maintain possible birth defects and also other congenital problems.


According on the National Down Syndrome Society, one in 733 babies born within the United States, or about 400,000 Americans, has Down syndrome. This genetic disorder strikes the growth and development of the child causing delays in the or her cognitive abilities. This is where occupational therapy for Down syndrome will come in. Occupational therapy practitioners help people who have Down syndrome become independent by teaching them the way to care for oneself like dressing or eating, refining their coordination skills, along with other activities that will make them live an ordinary life.

What would be the physical manifestations of Down syndrome? Babies born by using it usually have small features. From using a compressed face with a flat nose and a small mouth, to almond-shaped eyes that slant up, small ears, short neck, small hands and feet, short high. They also have low muscle that they look limp and they have poor head control. They look so delicate and frail.

There are other manifestations as they grow, like congenital heart defects, decrease of hearing in a or both ears, intellectual and developmental disabilities (like walking, taking a stand, and also other motor skills), problems with sleep (like stop snoring), and vision problems. They also withdraw easily and will contract infection or diseases faster than others who do not have Down syndrome.

All throughout these impediments, occupational therapy practitioners play an important role in the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. Aside from physically and psychologically enabling the individual, these occupational therapists profit the family members understand and appreciate your situation. They also prepare your family psychologically, enabling the mother and father, especially the mother, to effectively care for the individual during its infancy. These therapists also set the fogeys' expectations of the little one with Down syndrome, guiding them step-by-step on how the treatment is progressing.

There are also cases where occupational therapy practitioners can also be present inside the classroom. This is to boost the communication skills of the child through handwriting, drawing, and also other issues that must be addressed in order for the kid to adapt in a social setting. Adults who may have Down syndrome also reap the benefits of occupational therapy, because they try to be productive at work, learn skills that enable them to live independently, and become physically active for a healthy lifestyle.

Parents should put importance on the well-being of the average person from its infancy to adulthood. The need for professional occupational treatments are readily available and accessible. Read more about Down syndrome, ask friends and relatives how they cope, and a lot of all, consult a occupational therapy at home West Palm Beach. Some have misdiagnosed Down syndrome with autism but we need to be sure we get the right diagnosis.