Q: what are the common symptoms of Down Syndrome?
A: The symptoms of Down syndrome vary from person to person, and people with Down syndrome may have different problems at different times of their lives. There are almost 100 characteristics of Down syndrome but people with DS may only have a few on the list, here are the more common characteristics:
Decreased or poor muscle tone
Short neck, with excess skin at the back of the neck
Flattened facial profile and nose
Small head, ears, and mouth
Upward slanting eyes, often with a skin fold that comes out from the upper eyelid and covers the inner corner of the eye
White spots on the colored part of the eye (called Brushfield spots)
Wide, short hands with short fingers
A single, deep, crease across the palm of the hand
A deep groove between the first and second toes
In addition, physical development in children with Down syndrome is often slower than development of children without Down syndrome. For example, because of poor muscle tone, a child with Down syndrome may be slow to learn to turn over, sit, stand, and walk. Despite these delays, children with Down syndrome can learn to participate in physical exercise activities like other children. It may take children with Down syndrome longer than other children to reach developmental milestones, but they will eventually meet many of these milestones.
Intellectual and Developmental Symptoms:
Cognitive impairment, problems with thinking and learning, is common in people with Down syndrome and usually ranges from mild to moderate. Only rarely is Down syndrome associated with severe cognitive impairment.
Other common cognitive and behavioral problems may include:
Short attention span
Poor judgment
Impulsive behavior
Slow learning
Delayed language and speech development
Associated Conditions and Disorders:
People with Down syndrome are at increased risk for a range of other health conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, problems with hormones and glands, hearing loss, vision problems, and heart abnormalities.
