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Jane Doe

Prof. XXX

ENG 1201

21 March 2021

What is the best therapy to use for children with Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition and there is no cure.

Down Syndrome comes with many challenges and there are many different types of therapy to

help face these challenges and make life easier.

Early intervention refers to a range of specialized programs and resources that

professionals provide to young children with Down Syndrome and their families (“What Are

Common Treatments for Down syndrome?”). Early intervention should begin as early as after

birth and usually continues until the age of three. After the age of three, the child will get the

treatments and therapies through their local school district (“Early Intervention”). Research

indicates early intervention can improve the outcomes of a Down Syndrome child (“What Are

Common Treatments for Down syndrome?”).

One type of therapy that is used for children with Down Syndrome is physical therapy.

Physical therapy includes activities and exercises that help build motor skills, increase muscle

strength, and improve posture and balance. Physical therapy can greatly help the child because it

provides the basic foundations for other skills like turn over or crawling. Physical therapist can

help compensate for physical challenges such as low muscle tone. In this case, low muscle tone

and lead to pain while doing simple exercises like walking, but a physical therapist can establish
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an efficient walking pattern without pain (“What Are Common Treatments for Down

syndrome?”). Based on research, implementation of a physical therapy program, as early as

possible, in children who have Down Syndrome does help improve muscle strength, balance,

coordination, and controlled abilities, which contributes to the basic motor skills in life (Cristina-

Elena).

Another therapy that is used is occupational therapy. Occupational therapy helps find

way to deal with everyday tasks and conditions to match a person’s needs and abilities (“What

Are Common Treatments for Down syndrome?”). The skills that are worked on during the

sessions are self-care (such as dressing yourself), fine motor skills, gross motors skills, play and

leisure, feeding, sensory development, and skills relating to school (such as writing, using a

computer, cutting, printing, etc.). Occupational therapists can help Down Syndrome children by

breaking down tasks into smaller ones, and then teaching the child to complete each step-by-step

task (“Occupational Therapy for Downsyndrome.”).

Speech-language therapy is another therapy that is commonly used for Down Syndrome

children. Speech-language therapy focuses on communication skills and how to use language

more effectively. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help evaluate and make a treatment

plan for the speech and language difficulties experienced by children and adolescents with Down

Syndrome. Hearing loss in Down Syndrome children (usually due to accumulation of fluid

behind the eardrum) can negatively affect speech-language development. Feeding is also related

to speech-language development because of the similarities of anatomic structures used in both

feeding and speech. So, a SLP may help with breastfeeding, or other forms of feeding, to help

develop strengthen the muscles used for speech.

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There are many misconceptions around Down Syndrome. Most of which include the

mental or physical disabilities that Down Syndrome individuals are known for. A few common

misconceptions include how Down Syndrome individuals can’t be employed, most children with

Down Syndrome are born to older parents, and people with Down Syndrome are always happy.

All of these misconceptions are false. Down Syndrome individuals can still be hired for a

variety of jobs. Most children with Down Syndrome are born to women younger than 35 but the

risks increase with age (after 35). People with Down Syndrome are not always happy, they have

the same emotions as any other person and can be happy, sad, angry, etc. (“Myths & Truths.”).

What is the best therapy to use for children with Down Syndrome? Well, there are many

different therapies that Down Syndrome children use during early intervention but determining

what is the best requires a lot of research that will need to be explored. Overall, all of these

therapies are important for the special conditions that Down Syndrome children have and it is

important to get them started right away.

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Works Cited

Cristina-Elena, Popa, and Ghiorghiţă Gogu. “The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy in

Developing the Basic Motors Skills in Children Who Have Down Syndrome. / Eficienţa

Kinetoterapiei Privind Educarea Deprinderilor Motrice De Bază La Copiii Cu Sindrom

Down.” Gymnasium: Scientific Journal of Education, Sports & Health, vol. 15, no. 1,

Jan. 2014, pp 22-32. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=s3h&AN=101154667&site=eds-live. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

“Early Intervention.” NDSS, National Down Syndrome Society.

https://www.ndss.org/resources/early-intervention/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

“Myths & Truths.” NDSS, National Down Syndrome Society. https://www.ndss.org/about-down-

syndrome/myths-truths/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021

“Occupational Therapy for Downsyndrome.” ASD Clinic, ASD Clinic.

https://www.asdclinic.co.uk/conditions/downs-syndrome/occupational-therapy-for-

downs-syndrome.php. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

“Speech & Language Therapy.” NDSS, National Down Syndrome Society.

https://www.ndss.org/resources/speech-language-therapy/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

“What Are Common Treatments for Down syndrome?” National Institute of Child Health and

Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/down/conditioninfo/treatments. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.