Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTherapiesAssistive DevicesPrescriptionsSurgeriesFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Down Syndrome GuideWhat Is Down Syndrome?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Therapies

Assistive Devices

Prescriptions

Surgeries

Frequently Asked Questions

Next in Down Syndrome Guide

Down syndrome(trisomy 21) isn’t a disease or condition that can be managed or cured with medication or surgery. The goal of treatment, therefore, is not to address the disorder itself, but rather the variety of health issues, medical conditions, and physical, developmental, and intellectual challenges that people with Down syndrome may experience throughout their lives. Options can range from physical therapy and early intervention to assistive devices, medications, and even surgeries.

Lara Antal

How Down Syndrome Is Treated

Most kids with Down syndrome need therapies of various types. Some are focused on helping patients reach physical milestones at the same rate as those who don’t have the disorder. Others are aimed at helping them become as independent as possible when they reach adulthood.

Early Intervention

The sooner children withDown syndromereceive the individualized care and attention they need to address their specific health and developmental issues, the more likely they are to reach their full potential.

TheIndividuals With Disabilities Education Act(IDEA) mandates that all children born with Down syndrome should begin receiving early intervention services as soon after birth as possible.

down syndrome symptoms

The goal of this multifaceted approach to treating Down syndrome is to help people with the disorder successfully make the transition from living with their families as children to living as independently as possible as adults (which may, though not always, mean living in a group home or sharing a home with other people with Down syndrome).

Thanks to advances in technology, there is an ever-growing array of items that can help people with Down syndrome negotiate their individual challenges more easily and successfully. Some—like hearing aids and glasses—are the same devices that are useful for people who do not have Down syndrome but who share certain concerns that are common among those with trisomy 21, such as hearing loss and vision problems.

Beyond that, there are all sorts of assistive devices that are especially helpful for learning.These range from simple items like three-sided pencils and spring-loaded scissors that are easier to hold and manipulate to more elaborate devices such as computers with touchscreens or keyboards with large letters.

As with all treatments for Down syndrome, which assistive devices a child with the disorder will benefit from most will depend on the extent and type of his or her physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. Your child’s physical therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, and classroom aid likely will be aware of the options that will be most helpful and how to obtain them if they aren’t readily available.

Many of the health problems that affect someone with Down syndrome can be managed with medication—typically the same medication that would be given to a person who doesn’t have Down syndrome.

Because Down syndrome can cause a variety of health conditions at once, many of those who have it also have a number of different doctors and specialists. The NDSS cites a potential problem with this, noting that, although it’s “common for several doctors to be involved in prescribing medications for one individual, they may not be communicating with one another at all. It is important to be proactive with management of the medication list, making sure that both prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, along with their doses and frequencies, are up to date.”

In other words, if you’re a parent of someone who has Down syndrome, you should take the reins in making sure that your child’s various doctors know about all prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements they take regularly to help prevent dangerous interactions between them.

Down Syndrome Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Doctor Discussion Guide Mom and Baby

Download PDF

Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.

Sign Up

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.

It’s also important to note that aging brings the same set of challenges for people with Down syndrome as for everyone else, including increased risk of conditions such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment is similar, too.

One difference for caregivers and even doctors, however, may be that it can be harder to notice the onset of these types of conditions in someone who has trouble communicating clearly about what he or she is feeling.

Caregivers and doctors should be alert for signs that older people with Down syndrome may be developing additional disorders and may, as a result, now require additional treatment.

For Heart Defects

According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), even with surgery, there can be lifelong complications from AVSD, including a leaky mitral valve, which can cause the heart to work harder than normal.

For Gastrointestinal Problems

Some babies with Down syndrome are born with a deformity of the duodenum (a tube that allows digested food to pass from the stomach into the small bowel) calledduodenal atresia.It requires surgery to be repaired but isn’t considered an emergency if there are other more pressing medical issues. Duodenal atresia can be dealt with temporarily with a tube placed to decompress swelling in the stomach and intravenous fluids to treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that often result from the condition.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is no treatment for Down syndrome itself, but there are conditions associated with Down syndrome that require treatment. Health conditions that affect some people with Down syndrome include heart defects, gastrointestinal tract deformities, thyroid disorders, hearing difficulties, and vision problems. In addition, early intervention is recommended to address developmental delays and low muscle tone common in babies with Down syndrome.Yes, Down syndrome is a lifelong condition. It cannot be cured, but with support and therapies, many people with Down syndrome live happy and productive lives.Mosaic Down syndrome is often a less severe form of the genetic condition. Research suggests children with the mosaic variety of the condition tend to have slightly higher IQs than children with typical Down syndrome.In addition, children with mosaic Down syndrome reach certain milestones, such as crawling and walking independently, earlier than children with other forms of Down syndrome. However, speech delays are common in both groups.

There is no treatment for Down syndrome itself, but there are conditions associated with Down syndrome that require treatment. Health conditions that affect some people with Down syndrome include heart defects, gastrointestinal tract deformities, thyroid disorders, hearing difficulties, and vision problems. In addition, early intervention is recommended to address developmental delays and low muscle tone common in babies with Down syndrome.

Yes, Down syndrome is a lifelong condition. It cannot be cured, but with support and therapies, many people with Down syndrome live happy and productive lives.

Mosaic Down syndrome is often a less severe form of the genetic condition. Research suggests children with the mosaic variety of the condition tend to have slightly higher IQs than children with typical Down syndrome.In addition, children with mosaic Down syndrome reach certain milestones, such as crawling and walking independently, earlier than children with other forms of Down syndrome. However, speech delays are common in both groups.

Down Syndrome

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Down Syndrome Society.Early Intervention.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common treatments for Down syndrome?National Down Syndrome Society.Endocrine Conditions & Down Syndrome.National Down Syndrome Society.Mental Health & Down Syndrome.Global Down Syndrome Foundation.Congenital Heart Defects and Down Syndrome: What Parents Should Know.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Duodenal atresia.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Down syndrome.International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association.Mosaic Down syndrome.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statements.Health Care Information for Families of Children With Down Syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts About Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).National Institutes of Health.What Are Common Treatments For Down Syndrome?U.S. Department of Education.Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Down Syndrome Society.Early Intervention.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common treatments for Down syndrome?National Down Syndrome Society.Endocrine Conditions & Down Syndrome.National Down Syndrome Society.Mental Health & Down Syndrome.Global Down Syndrome Foundation.Congenital Heart Defects and Down Syndrome: What Parents Should Know.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Duodenal atresia.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Down syndrome.International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association.Mosaic Down syndrome.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statements.Health Care Information for Families of Children With Down Syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts About Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).National Institutes of Health.What Are Common Treatments For Down Syndrome?U.S. Department of Education.Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Down Syndrome Society.Early Intervention.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common treatments for Down syndrome?National Down Syndrome Society.Endocrine Conditions & Down Syndrome.National Down Syndrome Society.Mental Health & Down Syndrome.Global Down Syndrome Foundation.Congenital Heart Defects and Down Syndrome: What Parents Should Know.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Duodenal atresia.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Down syndrome.International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association.Mosaic Down syndrome.

National Down Syndrome Society.Early Intervention.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are common treatments for Down syndrome?

National Down Syndrome Society.Endocrine Conditions & Down Syndrome.

National Down Syndrome Society.Mental Health & Down Syndrome.

Global Down Syndrome Foundation.Congenital Heart Defects and Down Syndrome: What Parents Should Know.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Duodenal atresia.

U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Down syndrome.

International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association.Mosaic Down syndrome.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statements.Health Care Information for Families of Children With Down Syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts About Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).National Institutes of Health.What Are Common Treatments For Down Syndrome?U.S. Department of Education.Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statements.Health Care Information for Families of Children With Down Syndrome.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts About Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD).

National Institutes of Health.What Are Common Treatments For Down Syndrome?

U.S. Department of Education.Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?