Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

Zeke Michel
EDU 2010
Research Paper: Down syndrome
03/05/2015
Salt Lake Community College

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

You may be asking yourself, what is Down syndrome? General Home Reference (2015)
states that: Down syndrome is a chromosomal issue that is associated with intellectual
disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All
affected individuals will experience cognitive delays, the intellectual disability can range
anywhere from mild to severe. Although most of us probably know what Down syndrome is
due to all the commercials that they air, this definition is short and to the point and is easily a
definition you can give to your friends.
Down syndrome has several different forms that each have a different chromosomal
pattern. The three types are Trisomy 21, Mosaicism, and Translocation. Down syndrome is for
the most part a spontaneous disease that can affect anyone, but you basically are either conceived
that way or youre not. There is no link to ethnicity and Down syndrome, anyone can be born
with it. Down syndrome was originally called Mongolism by Robert Down who linked all the
cases of Down syndrome together. This was due to the fact that they looked similar to children
from Mongolia. Down syndrome is also often referred to as Trisomy 21 or even just shortened to
Downs. 95% of Downs cases are Trisomy 21 (this is why they refer to Downs as Trisomy 21)
which is where there is an extra #21 chromosome in each cell. 2-3% of Downs cases are
Translocation which is where a part of the #21 chromosome breaks off and attaches to another
chromosome, typically the 14th chromosome. It is estimated that 2/3 of Translocation cases are
spontaneous, the other 1/3 are inherited from the parents. This doesnt mean that the parents have
Downs it just means they have a higher chance of having more kids with Downs. The final 2%
of cases are Mosaicism which is where a faulty cell division occurs in one of the early cell
divisions after conception causing some cells to have 46 chromosomes and some to have 47
chromosomes, the number of each varies in each person (CDSS, 2009.)

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

Individuals with Down syndrome have an average IQ of 50 to 60. However, this is an

average and there are highs and lows, for instance there have been reports of IQs as high 120 in
people with Downs. On the other side of that there are cases as low as 30 IQ (HSF, n.d.) The
severity of this disorder can vary, as shown in IQs, however, other variables are involved in the
severity which include, but are not limited to: speech, behavior, medical problems, etc. Some
individuals with Down syndrome can have no use of words at all, others could carry on a normal
conversation just like anyone else. In a report found on Down Syndrome Education Online
(DSE) it is common for kids with Down syndrome to not have out of the ordinary behavior. They
evaluated 108 individuals, out of those 108, 66 of them had no problems with mood or anxiety
(thats 61 %!) 12 of them, or 11 %, were observed to had moderate problems concerning
depression, anxiety, and fears. 3 of them, or 3 %, experienced severe depression, psychotic
problems or severe self-injury (qtd. In DSE.) This makes it safe to say that typically people with
Downs are pretty easy-going and experience very limited behavior problems compared to the
average population. There are tons of health concerns for people with Downs and they can either
have them or not, its different from person to person. A couple health risks that are experienced
with Downs are: having a Downs heart (basically an enlarged heart), hypothyroidism,
hyperthyroidism, a form of Alzheimers, many different kinds of hearing and vision loss
disorders, and the list goes on and on (DSE.)
Down syndrome was not originally referred to as Down syndrome. It was originally
called mongolism or being Mongolian. This disorder was originally identified by a Victorian
doctor by the name of John Langdon Down in 1866. He identified the group of patients by their
characteristics of having upward slanting eyes, a flat back of the head, and poorly controlled,
fissured tongues. It wasnt until 1961 when a group of 19 international experts, including his

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

grandson Norman, wrote to the Lancet to change the name to Down syndrome ate the request of
the people of Mongolia (DSA)
Intervention for kids with Down syndrome in education has come a long way in the time
that we have known about the disease. One form of intervention is called Responsive teaching.
This is an early intervention program used to address social, emotional, cognition and language
needs. Responsive teaching is where engage in highly responsive interactions throughout a
childs daily routine to reinforce pivotal development behaviors (DSE.) More ways of
intervention in the classroom is to always remember that kids with Downs are: visual learners,
understand more than they can say, able to follow classroom routines and rules, will need help
remembering instructions, they have the same feeling as anyone else, and expectations of
behavior must stay high. This means that you should be using a lot of visuals in class, use shorter
phrases or visual cues to remind instructions, and definitely make sure to keep expectations high
in the classroom so that they dont sink below expectations (DSWA.)
The impact that having a child with Down syndrome on the family is very minimal. In
fact, so many families had reported that having a child with Downs is far more positive on the
family than negative. This is because they focus more on what really matters in life than dwelling
on what doesnt. The effects on the siblings of kids with Downs is equally as great. It promotes
the development of character in the siblings. For example kids who have siblings with Downs
are often more mature than their peers and have better communication and social skills. A lot of
the intervention from the family will come from the mother and father. As stated earlier in the
paper they use responsive teaching to reinforce positive behaviors. Also just like other kids they
are to be reinforced what they learned at school that day at home with the parents. The families

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

can receive SSI to help with medical bills associated with Downs or even other intervention
strategies (NDSS.)
Full inclusion can be viable in a very few amount of cases. Very rarely in schooling does
this happen but later in life after they have been taught a skill for work or other things they can
live on their own. Typically they will have a relative that lives close by or they rent out their
garage or basement to them. This however is very rare as well. Most cases of Downs they will
live in a care facility or at home and need care their whole life. But just like everything else there
are exceptions to the rule (ASCD.)
I have worked with and around Downs kids for about 2 years now and they are some of
my favorite kids to work with. Even the kids with behavior problems have a soft spot in my heart
because even then they are still kind hearted and unbelievably friendly. You would never believe
how big there smiles can get just by talking to them and making them feel like everyone else.
They may not know why they are the way they are and maybe they do, but no matter what they
still just want to be treated normally and why shouldnt they. They are incredible kids with
incredible struggles, yet through it all are still the sweetest bunch of kids you could ever meet, as
long as you dont give them a reason not to.

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

References:
Hardman, M., Drew, C., & Egan, W. (2014) Human Exceptionality: School, community, &
family. Wadsworth: Australia.
Genetic Home Reference. 2015, April 13th. Down Syndrome. Retrieved from
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/down-syndrome
The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS). 2009 June, 19th. Types of Down Syndrome.
Retrieved from http://www.cdss.ca/information/general-information/types-of-downsyndrome.html
The Henry Spink Foundation (HSF). N.d. Downs Syndrome. Retrieved from
http://www.henryspink.org/down%27s_syndrome.htm
Down Syndrome Education Online (DSE). N.d. Mental health, behavior and intellectual
abilities
of people with Down syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.downsyndrome.org/reports/313/
Down Syndrome Association (DSA). N.d. The History of Downs Syndrome. Retrieved from
http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/the-history-of-downssyndrome/
Down Syndrome of Western Australia (DSWA). 2009. Teaching Strategies. Retrieved from
http://dsawa.asn.au/children/education/teaching-strategies.html

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER: DOWN SYNDROME

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). 2012. Caring For Your Family. Retrieved from
http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Caring-for-Your-Family/
ASCD. 2015. Educational Leadership. Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec94/vol52/num04/FullInclusion-Is-Neither-Free-Nor-Appropriate.aspx