{"id":49812,"date":"2024-04-12T20:14:29","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T17:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/?p=49812"},"modified":"2024-04-12T20:38:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T17:38:08","slug":"what-is-down-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Down Syndrome?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder. Individuals with this syndrome experience various complications. They may undergo different physical and mental challenges compared to those without Down syndrome. With advancements in the medical field, individuals can have longer and healthier lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is Down syndrome? What are the symptoms of Down syndrome and why does it occur? What are the types of Down syndrome and how is it treated? Let&#8217;s explore the answers to these questions together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#What_is_Down_Syndrome\" title=\"What is Down Syndrome?\">What is Down Syndrome?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Down_Syndrome_Symptoms\" title=\"Down Syndrome Symptoms\">Down Syndrome Symptoms<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Common_Physical_Symptoms\" title=\"Common Physical Symptoms\">Common Physical Symptoms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Common_Mental_and_Behavioural_Symptoms\" title=\"Common Mental and Behavioural Symptoms\">Common Mental and Behavioural Symptoms<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Causes_of_Down_Syndrome\" title=\"Causes of Down Syndrome\">Causes of Down Syndrome<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Maternal_Age\" title=\"Maternal Age\">Maternal Age<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Genetic\" title=\"Genetic\">Genetic<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#Types_of_Down_Syndrome\" title=\"Types of Down Syndrome\">Types of Down Syndrome<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#How_is_Down_Syndrome_Diagnosed\" title=\"How is Down Syndrome Diagnosed?\">How is Down Syndrome Diagnosed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/what-is-down-syndrome\/#How_is_Down_Syndrome_Treated\" title=\"How is Down Syndrome Treated?\">How is Down Syndrome Treated?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Down_Syndrome\"><\/span><b>What is Down Syndrome?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Down syndrome is a genetic disorder inherited through genes. Individuals without Down syndrome have a total of 46 chromosomes. However, individuals with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes. The extra chromosome is called Trisomy 21. This disorder is the most common chromosomal condition. The most common problems experienced by children with Down syndrome are learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Down syndrome presents different symptoms from person to person. The severity of this disorder also varies in each individual. While it may be challenging for some individuals, others can adapt to life more easily. Generally, they may lag behind intellectually compared to the rest of society. Individuals may have lower levels of physical and mental development compared to their peers. They may also experience some problems in their digestive systems and internal organs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, there are also some responsibilities for families. Barents should be knowledgeable about Down syndrome, its genetics, and development. They should support the development of individuals with Down syndrome by not depriving them of education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Down_Syndrome_Symptoms\"><\/span><b>Down Syndrome Symptoms<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individuals with Down syndrome have many common and different characteristics. This disorder, which varies from person to person, can be graded as mild-moderate-severe.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Physical_Symptoms\"><\/span><b>Common Physical Symptoms<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slanted eye structure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short neck structure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flat facial structure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small hand and foot structure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weak muscle and joint structure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flat nose structure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simian creases in their hands<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short stature throughout life<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Mental_and_Behavioural_Symptoms\"><\/span><b>Common Mental and Behavioural Symptoms<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsustainable attention skills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning difficulties<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impulsive behaviour<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty in judgment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty in speech skills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Late acquisition of toilet training<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Late crawling and walking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stubborn and angry temperament<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to these symptoms, they are also observed to have difficulty in social skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_of_Down_Syndrome\"><\/span><b>Causes of Down Syndrome<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the exact cause of Down syndrome is not yet determined, many factors trigger it.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Maternal_Age\"><\/span><b>Maternal Age<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is one of the most common problems. The likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome increases if the mother is 35 years old or older, and the risk increases with age. They are twice as likely to have a baby with Down syndrome compared to a young mother. However, this does not mean that it will not be seen in young mothers. According to research, while the likelihood of a 35-year-old mother having a baby with Down syndrome is 1 in 350, it is 1 in 100 for a mother over 40.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Genetic\"><\/span><b>Genetic<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If someone in the child&#8217;s family has Down syndrome, the likelihood of having it increases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are common known causes. However, the mechanism of formation of Down syndrome has not been completely resolved.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Down_Syndrome\"><\/span><b>Types of Down Syndrome<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21, translocation, and mosaic. This difference can be understood after genetic examination.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Trisomy 21<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the most common type in individuals with Down syndrome. There are 3 copies of the 21st chromosome in every cell of their bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Translocation Down Syndrome<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is one of the rarer types. In this type, the extra 21st chromosome attaches to another chromosome, and that chromosome is not freely available.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Mosaic Down Syndrome<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the least common type. As understood from its name, mosaic means mixture. While some cells in their bodies have 2 copies of the 21st chromosome, some have an extra 21st chromosome. They have common features with individuals of other types but show their symptoms more mildly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like all children, children with Down syndrome also have their own unique developments, abilities, personalities, thoughts, and social lives. They will have behaviours and habits they will acquire throughout their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_Down_Syndrome_Diagnosed\"><\/span><b>How is Down Syndrome Diagnosed?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many individuals with Down syndrome receive this diagnosis during pregnancy. Screening and diagnostic tests are applied to the mother. In the screening test, the probability of the baby having a low or high degree of Down syndrome is examined. The thickness of the baby&#8217;s neck is also examined by ultrasound. However, the results are not definitive. There is also a possibility of giving wrong results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most commonly performed tests is dual tests. It is performed in the first three months of pregnancy. Blood is taken from the mother and her hormones are examined. The thickness of the baby&#8217;s neck is also examined. If the mother has these tests between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, she gets more accurate results. After the triple test, the quadruple test is performed. This test is performed in the 4th month. In addition, Inhibin A level is examined.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, diagnostic tests are good at finding the probability of Down syndrome but are risky tests for the health of both the mother and the baby. It increases the likelihood of the mother having a miscarriage. They can be applied if confirmed by other tests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_Down_Syndrome_Treated\"><\/span><b>How is Down Syndrome Treated?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is currently no treatment that completely prevents Down syndrome. However, with many supports, both the individual and the family&#8217;s life can be made easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are special education programs that start to be applied to babies at the age of two months. The baby can improve many of its skills to a better level. In later years, by continuing with special education, they can sustain their social, physical, and mental skills. Expectant mothers can also consult with an obstetrician and gynaecologist and undergo some tests if they are planning pregnancy after around the age of 35.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having an individual with Down syndrome in the family brings many responsibilities. Individuals go through some emotional and physical problems. They need you to hold their hands throughout their lives. With your support, they can have a more functional life. Motor skills and some different abilities can develop. Sometimes there may be moments when they are stubborn or exhibit angry behaviour. You should try to remain patient and understanding as much as possible. During this process, you may feel psychologically affected as well as physically tired.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as you do not withhold support from the individual, you should not refrain from seeking support when you need it yourself as a Barent.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder. Individuals with this syndrome experience various complications. They may undergo different physical and mental challenges compared&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77147,"featured_media":49813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[477,481],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ages-stages","category-special-needs-kids","article","has-background","has-excerpt","has-avatar","has-author","has-date","has-comment-count","has-category-meta","has-read-more","thumbnail-"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49812"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49814,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49812\/revisions\/49814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}