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Down Syndrome

What is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic syndrome that causes intellectual impairment, limitations in adaptive skills, and anatomical and physiological differences in their mouth area.  Children with Down syndrome commonly experience feeding and swallowing difficulties and have weak muscle tone (hypotonia) as well. 

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Our Boca Raton Speech Therapist Can Help!

What is the Cause of Down Syndrome?

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Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that is characterized by all or part of a third copy of the 21st chromosome. This extra chromosome causes developmental delays as well as the physical attributes that are associated with Down syndrome. The cause of  why Down syndrome occurs is unknown but research suggests women over the age of 35 have a greater risk of conceiving a child with Down syndrome.

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What is the Treatment for Down Syndrome?

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A speech-language pathologist will complete an evaluation to determine your child’s level of communication by assessing their non-verbal communication skills, expressive language, comprehension skills and speech and oral motor skills. An individualized treatment plan will then be developed to target their specific needs. Therapy will focus on oral motor strength and development and language and vocabulary concepts. Speech therapy  through verbal and other modalities such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile awareness will be utilized to promote generalization of targeted concepts. 

Our South Florida Pediatric Speech Therapists can help children with Down Syndrome 

If you would like to schedule your child for an evaluation please contact us here.

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