The Medical Perspective

Down Syndrome is a condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. There is a copy of chromosome 21 which affects the way the body and brain develop.

Physical signs:

• Decreased muscle tone 
• Excess skin around nape of neck 
• Flattened nose 
• Separated joints between bones of the skull 
• Single crease on palm of hand 
• Small ears 
• Small mouth 
• Upward slanting eyes 
• Wide, short hands with short fingers 
• White spots on the colored part of the eye 

Developmental:

• Developmental delays 
• Most children never reach average adult height 
• Social developmental issues 
• Impulsive behavior 
• Poor judgment 
• Short attention span 
• Slow learning

Also common:

• Heart defects
• Dementia
• Eye problems
• Hearing problems
• Gastrointestinal blockage
• Hip problems
• Chronic constipation
• Sleep apnea
• Teeth that appear later and in locations that may interfere with chewing
• Hypothyroidism
• Increased risk of leukemia
• Average level of intellectual disability

Source: Down Syndrome. (2012). In A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2013 from
        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001992/

What is Silenced?

• The independent potential of the child given optimum support and environmental conditions. 
• The potential for social growth and maturity. 
• The capacity of love and happiness in a child with Down Syndrome. 
• The varying levels of severity in individuals with Down Syndrome. 
• The idea that a child with Down Syndrome can be a positive addition to a family. 

Impact on Children and Families

• The information presented from a medical perspective sounds devastating to families of children born with Down Syndrome.
• There is a deficit model in the presentation of information. The focus is on limitations with no mention of potential and abilities.
• Upon reading the information, one feels a sense of disempowerment and hopelessness.
• The diagnosis sounds like an overwhelming lifetime prescription of burden and struggle.
• The diagnosis is written in a way that sounds like a pre-determined fate of the child.

Positive Outcomes for Children and Families

• The medical perspective can be used to positively influence children and their families as it is a black and white snapshot of potential issues the family and child may face.
• The medical perspective gives families a starting point for understanding the potential future of their child.