October 31, 2008
Down Syndrome Truths Vs Myths
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There are many myths surrounding Down syndrome today. It is important for society to be educated on this genetic anomaly. Public ignorance causes hardship for the people suffering from the... |
There are many myths surrounding Down syndrome today. It is important for society to be educated on this genetic anomaly. Public ignorance causes hardship for the people suffering from the syndrome and their families.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome are born only to older parents. The risk of having a child with Down syndrome go up in mothers over the age of 35 however 80% of all mothers who give birth to a Down syndrome baby are under the age of 35.
Myth: All people with Down syndrome will eventually develop Alzheimer's disease. It is true that people with Down syndrome are more likely to develop dementia of some sort in the future; the incidence is not any more common than in the general public. The difference is in those people it does occur in, it occurs 20-30 years earlier.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy. People with Down syndrome do have a wonderfully pleasant personality and love to be with other people. However, they have all of the same moods and personalities that everyone else has and they cycle through them in much the same way and frequency.
Myth: Men and women with Down syndrome cannot have children. Men have impaired fertility and there are only two documented cases of men who actually fathered children. Women with Down syndrome are just as capable of having children as any other woman is.
Myth: People with Down syndrome cannot form relationships. People with Down syndrome are capable of forming relationships and feeling like, dislike, and love with anyone they come in contact with. They are able of having friendships, parent-child relationships, and man-woman love relationships.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely retarded. Most people with Down syndrome have mild to moderate below-normal intelligence. They are capable of learning and just like anyone else, their potential cannot be specified.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome cannot hold a job. Many adults can hold various levels and kinds of job positions. While some people with Down's can be competitively employed, others need a more supportive work environment.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be place in special education programs outside of the regular classroom. Just as any other child in school, children with Down's are in a regular classroom for part of the day and in special classes for specific subjects. Some of them are in the regular classroom all day but with a modified curriculum.
Myth: Most people with Down syndrome live in institutions. Most children with Down syndrome live at home with their families and attend school, church, and are active in their communities. There are adults with Down's who may live in group home settings but the set up actually enables them to be more independent in their lives.
The general public needs to be educated on Down syndrome in order to not be limited by the constraints of myths and untruths associated with the syndrome. As a parent to a child with Down syndrome, knowing the being educated about the truths of Down's will allow parents to support their child and help him or her to grow to their full potential.