Children with Down Syndrome have strengths and challenges in the development of communication skills, including receptive language (understanding) and expressive language skills (speaking and expressing thoughts). Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is typically associated with physical developmental delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic facial features.
Down Syndrome
SYMPTOMS
- Hearing loss
- Low muscle tone
- Language delay
- Language disorders
- Articulation disorders
- Decreased oral-motor skills
- Hypernasaility and nasal air emission
- Breathier vocal quality
- Physical characteristics include a flat facial profile, small nose / ears / chin, shortened oral and pharyngeal structures
HOW WE CAN HELP
- At Q Enrichment Center, our Speech, Language and Swallowing Pathologist will conduct an extensive comprehensive assessment to determine the type of difficulty, the severity, as well as the diagnosis related to any speech, language or swallowing difficulty. A detailed report will be completed along with a treatment plan specific to each individual’s needs.
- For more information on how an Occupational Therapist can help with this condition, click here.