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Kaitlyn McClellan
Cady Mounts
Modern Literature
3 November 2015
Twenty One
Your Child has Down Syndrome. The doctor says as he walks in with the ultrasound result.
The words roll off the doctor's lips as if he had to diagnose someone with cancer. The words cut
through the father's tough exterior, and the words make the mothers heart sink like the titanic.
Im so sorry, here are some pamphlets on it and if you have any questions feel free to contact
me. The Parents walk out of the office as pale as the white walls. How is this possible, What
even is Down Syndrome, What does this mean about their son's future, Is it curable or is their
son going to have to live with it? All these questions run through their mind. On their way home
they start to talk about how they are going to tell the family. Down Syndrome is a chromosomal
disorder with several symptoms including physical features but treatments are very limited.
Down Syndrome, also known as downs, is a chromosomal disorder that takes place in the
21st set of chromosomes. People with downs have many physical features and many
non-physical features. Down Syndrome has been around for a while now and it is most
commonly known as trisomy 21. Down Syndrome is the most common chromosome disorder
and genetic cause of cognitive impairment. It occurs because of the presence of an extra copy of
chromosome 21. For this reason, it is also called trisomy 21 (Gale). There are 23 sets of 2
chromosomes and for people with Down Syndrome they have 3 chromosomes in the 21st set.
People with down syndrome have many physical indication. Including but not limited to, they
appear to have a flatter face. (Refer to fig. 1 pg.4) they have smaller mouths so their tongue
looks too big or swollen, upward slanting eyes; rounded cheeks, curved little finger, can be short

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in stature and many more. Down syndrome can be detected before the birth, they check the
physical signs (the physical appearance) if they think that the child has down syndrome they then
continue with testing. The test they used is called genetic testing in which they analyze the
chromosomes. The testing is typically done with blood samples. Those cells are then prepared
for lab work. They stain those cells and take a picture and if there is an extra chromosome in the
21st set then they can determine that the child has down syndrome.
While Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, a baby is usually identified at birth through
observation of a set of common physical characteristics. It is important to remember that not all
children with Down syndrome will exhibit all of the features discussed (Gale). Down Syndrome
causes the person to appear to have a more flattened face. This means that their face
seems to look less dimensional than people without this disorder. They have bigger
foreheads, smaller noses, and smaller mouths, this is because their face appears flatter
than others. Their mouths are so small that their tongues tend to hang out a little bit so it
appears that their tongue is quite large or maybe swollen. This can cause difficulty drinking
and eating. This can be a problem because if they have problems eating and drinking they
can lack some nutrition. Which is a small contributor to their short stature. They tend to be
on the shorter side for this and other reasons such as: they grow at a slower pace just like
their learning capability is slower and they simply may just be short.
No treatment is available to cure Down syndrome. Treatment is directed at addressing the
individual concerns of a particular person (Gale). Although Down Syndrome causes several
serious symptoms, most can be managed with therapy, surgery, and events such as camps.
Therapy is one of the major treatments they use to help people with down syndrome. This is

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because therapy can be personalize to that particular individual. Some of the therapy they
use are music therapy, speech therapy, counseling, and many more. Although therapy can
be personalized, it isnt always the best option. Another option can be sugery. This isnt one
of the best and more used options because of two reasons. First, it isnt as personalized as
therapy, meaning they cant make surgery specific to just that individual. And second,
surgery pertains typically to those who have the heart defect and for the typical needed
procedures. For those who dont need the surgery, they attend events such as a camp.
Activities such as camps can help people with Down Syndrome socialize. Socialization is
very important because it stimulates the mind and helps them learn what's appropriate and
what isnt. This includes knowing if hugging someone is appropriate and learning personal
space, what is inappropriate touch and what is acceptable. As long as they are in a social
environment it can be very helpful.
As the parents head home from their doctor appointment they start to read the
pamphlets that the doctor gave them. They needed answers now. As they read they started
to get less worry. They learned what Down Syndrome was, That there son was going to be
ok, and that even though it wasnt completely curable they could get him therapy and take
him to social events. They began to discus how to tell their family, they decided the best way
to tell them was calmly just as the doctor had done and give them the pamphlets to read.
The wife said to her husband This doesnt seem so bad after all, although it will be tough
we will make it through and so will our son. Down Syndrome is just one extra chromosome
and that is something not so bad. This disorder can be best described in these words,
Down Syndrome, it doesnt mean Im down, it means I help people who are feeling down. My

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smiles are contagious, my laugh is medicine for the heart, my hugs are heavenly, and my heart itself
is pure gold - unknown (Cinthya).

Fig. 1

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Work Cited
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health, 2013
Cinthya Lara, 2014

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Lifeline Children's Services. National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. lifelinechild.org, 2015.
Web.