Down Syndrome Site : Down Syndrome Statistics

Down syndrome affects roughly 1/1,000 American babies. While it's every parent's worst nightmare to receive a Down syndrome diagnosis, 75% of all parents with a Down syndrome child will tell you the experience was ultimately extremely rewarding. Raising any child is never easy and raising a developmentally disabled child will certainly require more patience. However, you will still celebrate all the same milestones as your child learns to walk and talk, and you'll find that families with disabled children often have a much tighter family unit.

When learning about Down syndrome, you will discover there is a build-up of additional genetic material on the 21st chromosome. Doctors aren't 100% sure what causes this abnormality, but they do know that parental age increases the risk. Eighty percent of Down syndrome babies are born to parents under 35, which is probably because more people in that age bracket are having children.

Statistically speaking, a 25-year-old woman has a 1/3,000 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome, while a 35-year-old-woman has 1/365 odds of having a Down syndrome baby. By 45 years of age, her baby has a 1/30 chance of having downs! It is very rarely passed down genetically and it is estimated that only 3-4% of all downs cases are caused from inherited translocation of genetic material, while the rest appear to be caused by random, abnormal chromosomal activity.

If your child has Down syndrome, then your role at home cannot be overstated. Your love, acceptance and patient guidance is one of the biggest contributors to your child's progression. If a Down syndrome child is encouraged to try new things, taught through repetition and routine, positively rewarded and cared for, then he or she can reach full potential. Early intervention programs have proven very successful in aiding with development for infants to three-year-olds. Once your child has reached three years of age, he or she is eligible for state schooling programs. "Inclusion" is the most effective teaching method for children with this syndrome, as it allows them a better social atmosphere with other children, in addition to fostering a greater feeling of acceptance and normalcy. Tutoring, speech therapy and extracurricular activities are often added to enhance the child's learning potential.

Widespread misperceptions still occasionally dog people with Down syndrome. Not all Down syndrome children are happy all the time or in their own world. In fact, most children can recognize the fact that they are somehow "different" and "unique" from others, but also realize that this "uniqueness" is not something that others envy. However, they employ various coping strategies, such as self-talk, following a routine and learning a hobby, which can help them develop their own "voice" in the world and build self-esteem. Art, music and athletic programs geared towards children and adults with Down syndrome have yielded extremely positive results in recent years.

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