Deal with them Down Syndrome

A variety of therapies can be used in early intervention programs and throughout a person’s life to promote the greatest possible development, independence, and productivity. Some of these therapies are listed below.

• Physical therapy includes activities and exercises that help build motor skills, increase muscle strength, and improve posture and balance.

1. Physical therapy is important, especially early in a child’s life, because physical abilities lay the foundation for other skills. The ability to turn over, crawl, and reach helps infants learn about the world around them and how to interact with it.
2. A physical therapist also can help a child with Down syndrome compensate for physical challenges, such as low muscle tone, in ways that avoid long-term problems. For example, a physical therapist might help a child establish an efficient walking pattern, rather than one that might lead to foot pain.

• Speech-language therapy can help children with Down syndrome improve their communication skills and use language more effectively.

1. Children with Down syndrome often learn to speak later than their peers. A speech-language therapist can help them develop the early skills necessary for communication, such as imitating sounds. The therapist also may help an infant breastfeed because breastfeeding can strengthen muscles that are used for speech.
2. In many cases, children with Down syndrome understand language and want to communicate before they can speak. A speech-language therapist can help a child use alternate means of communication, such as sign language and pictures, until he or she learns to speak.
3. Learning to communicate is an ongoing process, so a person with Down syndrome also may benefit from speech and language therapy in school as well as later in life. The therapist may help with conversation skills, pronunciation skills, understanding what is read (called comprehension), and learning and remembering words.

• Occupational therapy helps find ways to adjust everyday tasks and conditions to match a person’s needs and abilities.

1. This type of therapy teaches self-care skills such as eating, getting dressed, writing, and using a computer.
2. An occupational therapist might offer special tools that can help improve everyday functioning, such as a pencil that is easier to grip.
3. At the high school level, an occupational therapist could help teenagers identify jobs, careers, or skills that match their interests and strengths.