Down Syndrome And The Role of Occupational Therapy

Down Syndrome And The Role of Occupational Therapy

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When parents learn that their newborn has Down syndrome, they can not help but feel devastated. To them, it could seem that their infant came to be a lesser being as opposed to a healthy babe. Seeing the physical manifestations with this genetic condition renders all parents anxious with regards to bringing up a young child who has it. But there's you don't need to despair. Many individuals with Down syndrome are healthy. Some visit school, enjoy sports, and socialize. But some may need medical maintain possible birth defects along with other congenital problems.



According for 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 applies to the growth and progression of the child causing delays in his or her cognitive abilities. This is where occupational therapy for Down syndrome will come in. Occupational therapy practitioners help people with Down syndrome become independent by teaching them the way to care for oneself like dressing up or eating, refining their coordination skills, as well as other activities that will make them live a normal life.

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

There is also another manifestations because they grow, including congenital heart defects, loss in hearing a single or both ears, intellectual and developmental disabilities (like walking, standing, along with other motor skills), sleep problems (like sleep apnea), and vision problems. They also get sick easily which enable it to contract infection or diseases faster than these who do not have Down syndrome.

All throughout these impediments, occupational therapy practitioners play an important role in the lives of people who have Down syndrome. Aside from physically and psychologically enabling the person, these occupational therapists help the family members understand and appreciate the situation. They also prepare family members psychologically, enabling the oldsters, particularly the mother, to effectively take care of the individual during its infancy. These therapists also set the parents' expectations of a child with Down syndrome, guiding them in depth on how the procedure is progressing.

There will also be cases where occupational therapy practitioners are also present inside classroom. This is to improve the communication skills of the kid through handwriting, drawing, and other issues that should be addressed in order for the little one to adapt inside a social setting. Adults who have Down syndrome also make use of occupational therapy, while they try to be productive at the office, learn skills that permit them to live independently, and become physically active for a healthy lifestyle.

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