{"id":9488,"date":"2025-05-12T17:22:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T14:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9488"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:53:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:53:50","slug":"down-syndrome-symptoms-that-you-should-have-felt-earlier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/down-syndrome-symptoms-that-you-should-have-felt-earlier\/","title":{"rendered":"Down Syndrome: Answers You Should Have Heard Earlier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is this a disease?<\/h2>\n

No. This is genetic disorder<\/strong>, which arises due to the presence of an extra (third) copy of chromosome 21<\/strong>. Normally, each person has 46 chromosomes. People with Down syndrome have 47. This is not an infection, not a virus, and not the result of parental actions. It genetic variant of development<\/strong>, which forms certain physical and cognitive characteristics.<\/p>\n

Why did this happen to us?<\/h2>\n

In 95% cases, the cause is \u2014 random chromosome disruption during meiosis<\/strong> (germ cell division). This is not related to how you ate, lived, or planned your pregnancy. Only the mother's age slightly increases the probability: a 25-year-old woman has a 1:1400 chance, a 40-year-old woman has a 1:100 chance. But 80% children with Down syndrome are born to young women<\/strong>, simply because they are the ones who give birth more often in general.<\/p>\n

How is it diagnosed?<\/h2>\n

Before birth:<\/strong>
\u2013 1st trimester screening (ultrasound + blood test<\/a>)
\u2013 NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test, accuracy over 99%)
\u2013 Amniocentesis, chorionic biopsy \u2014 invasive methods with absolute accuracy<\/p>\n

After birth:<\/strong>
\u2013 Clinical signs in the newborn
\u2013 Confirmation by karyotyping (chromosome analysis)<\/p>\n

What does this diagnosis mean for the child?<\/h2>\n

It means different pace of development<\/strong>. There may be a delay in speech, motor skills, and intellectual skills. But the range is wide: some children need constant support, others study, work, and live independently.<\/p>\n

Common concomitant conditions:
\u2013 congenital heart defects (40\u201350%)
\u2013 decreased muscle tone
\u2013 problems with the thyroid gland, hearing, vision
\u2013 increased susceptibility to infections<\/p>\n

But all this is medical conditions that are being monitored<\/strong> provided early diagnosis and intervention.<\/p>\n

\"Doctor<\/p>\n

Can these children learn?<\/h2>\n

Yes. In most countries they are:<\/p>\n

\u2013 visit inclusive kindergartens and schools<\/strong>
\u2013 have individual educational routes
\u2013 are engaged in speech therapists, defectologists, psychologists
\u2013 study according to adapted programs<\/p>\n

The key is in stability, support, tolerance and access to development<\/strong>. It is not necessary to teach theorems. It is important to teach how to communicate, ask for help, make choices, work in a team - and all this is possible.<\/p>\n

What are \u201csun children\u201d? Is this correct?<\/h2>\n

The term \u201csun child\u201d is an attempt to give a positive emotional connotation to the diagnosis. But it can to cover up real needs<\/strong>. People with Down syndrome are different \u2014 just like everyone else. They can be calm or active, sociable or reserved. They don't need a "fix," but they do need realistic vision and respect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Can adults with this diagnosis work and live independently?<\/h2>\n

In the world, yes. In Ukraine, it is also possible, if there is:<\/p>\n

\u2013 adapted housing
\u2013 support in studies, everyday life, finances
\u2013 access to protected jobs<\/strong> or social business enterprises<\/strong>
\u2013 tolerance and understanding from society<\/p>\n

In many countries, people with Down syndrome work in coffee shops, offices, museums, participate in theater troupes, sports clubs, and act in films.<\/p>\n

What should the family do after the diagnosis?<\/h2>\n

\u2013 Don't isolate yourself. There are communities, psychologists, foundations, and parenting initiatives.
\u2013 Ask your doctor for a clear examination plan: heart, vision, hearing, hormones.
\u2013 Fold individual early intervention plan<\/strong> with specialists.
\u2013 Give yourself time. You are entitled to all the emotions: confusion, pain, guilt, anger. But Every week there will be more action than fear.<\/strong>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is this a disease? No. It is a genetic disorder that occurs due to the presence of an extra (third) copy of the 21st chromosome. Normally, every person<\/p>","protected":false},"author":627,"featured_media":9489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}