Support Children with Down syndrome often have a learning disability, which means they need help with doing daily life activities (DLAs). However, the amount of help they need might differ from one child with Down syndrome to another. And their needs can evolve or change as they grow older. However, the one thing that parents must remember is that there is no cure-all solution for Down syndrome. However, with a tailored Down syndrome treatment approach, you can help your child live a comparatively better life.
Signs a Child Has Down Syndrome
Children with Down syndrome have peculiar physical characteristics. For example:
- Flattened face
- Flattened nose
- Eyes with an upward slant look and may have a skin fold covering the inner corner
- Small ears with an unusual shape
- Short hands with short fingers and a seemingly wide gap between the first and second toes
- Low muscle tone in the body
- Abnormally flexible joints
Children affected with this condition often start to talk at a later age than other children and may have mild to moderate intellectual abilities.
Like autism, symptoms of Down syndrome may vary from one child to another and vary in severity level. The most common Down syndrome is Trisomy 21, a condition in which a baby has one additional copy of chromosome 21 in every cell. This extra chromosome is responsible for problems with the brain and physical development.
If your child has Down syndrome, you can get the best Down syndrome treatment in Chandigarh.
Though there are several risk factors that can cause Down syndrome, some parents may have greater chance of having a baby with Down syndrome if the couple, especially woman, has a baby after 35 or above because older eggs have a higher chance of going through improper chromosome division.
Tips on How to Handle Children with Down Syndrome
It can be disheartening to know that your child has Down syndrome. However, as a parent in Chandigarh or anywhere in the world, you can make their lives a bit easier by understanding how to help a child with Trisomy 21. Some of the important things that experts recommend for parents to do for their Down syndrome children include:
What to Do for Children with Down Syndrome
- Appreciate them when they learn something new
- Speak calmly and very clearly so that they can understand and learn from you
- Play with them simple games they enjoy
- Sing along to their favorite songs
- Read books to help them learn new words and sound
- Show them how to do something instead of giving just instructions as visual cues are easier to follow
- Try different ways to communicate with them
- Create a routine so that they get more organized
- Find activities to keep them healthy and help them understand being healthy and active
- Keep an eye on their mood and behavioral changes as they may not be able to tell if something is wrong or they are feeling unwell
- Get them checked up for eyesight, hearing, and overall health regularly
- Treat them like any other kid of their age
What Not to Do When Talking with Children with Down Syndrome
- Never talk down to children with Down syndrome
- Don’t try to convey the message through their parents, talk directly to children with DS
- Don’t disrespect them or use offensive language when interacting with children with Down syndrome
How to Support Children with Down Syndrome for a Better Life
If you are a parent or caregiver of a child with Down syndrome, you need to look for a comprehensive Down syndrome treatment that works on all aspects and helps a child get better and live a happier life. Since most children with Down syndrome have low muscle tone (also known as hypotonia), physical therapy can greatly benefit them in developing tone and strengthening their muscles. It also teaches them how to move their body properly, helping them in their daily tasks. Other cerebral palsy treatments and therapies include:
- Listening therapy
- Prism therapy
- Audiovisual therapy
- Brain gym
- Floor program
- Reflex integration
- Sensory integration
- Neurosensory integration
- Tactile therapy
- Balance board exercises
- Proprioceptive and spatial integration
- Neuro-structural therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Homeopathy
- Nutrition advice
- Behavior program
- Reading and maths program
- Music therapy and more
To help children with Down syndrome improve the best, we at IIAHP offer advanced Down syndrome treatment in India that consists of therapies widely used in foreign countries across Europe, USA, Russia, and Brazil.
We have a team of highly trained and experienced yet friendly therapists and offer the best available Down syndrome treatment in India, including Chandigarh.
The best decision you can take for your child is to start Down syndrome treatment as early as possible for the best results. Children who are still in the process of learning to speak and move can receive therapies for better behavior control so that only the right forms and behaviors become a habit. By starting treatment right after the birth of the child and before they reach school age, parents can see significant improvements in their children. If you are looking for Down syndrome treatment in Chandigarh or anywhere in India (or beyond India), please get in touch with IIAHP today.
