Question

can children with a cognitive impairment from down syndrome have a range of cognitive impairment? If so, explain how some children may become higher functioning than others.

Answer 1

Answer:-Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic form of intellectual disability. DS results in a characteristic profile of cognitive and neurological dysfunction cognitive impairment , problems with thinking and learning, is common in people with down syndrome and usually ranges from mild to moderate. Only rarely is Down syndrome associated with severe cognitive impairment . Other common cognitive and behavioral problems may include Short attention span.

Children with Down syndrome have been described as having phenotypically distinct behavioural patterns in language and cognition,

Infancy and Toddler Years

During infancy and the toddler years, cognitive learning delays accelerate with age, a slower transition from babbling to speech is seen, and poorer intelligibility when speech emerges. Nonverbal requesting is less frequent than one would expect, given the level of cognitive skills; First single word and first two word-combinations may also emerge at expected cognitive stages, but expressive language development is slowed thereafter, in both cumulative vocabulary and development of syntax as indicated by mean utterance length. Cumulative vocabulary is delayed even when signing skills are taken into account.Comprehension skills, in contrast, are commensurate with nonverbal mental age.

Childhood

In childhood, specific deficits in verbal short-term memory become apparent. Speech development includes a longer period of phonological errors and more variability; as well as poorer intelligibility, which is associated in part with hearing status. Expressive language delays continue relative to comprehension and cognition. In terms of adaptive behaviour, individuals with Down syndrome show fewer behaviour problems than control groups with other cognitive disabilities. Problems that do occur, such as anxiety, depression, and withdrawal, may become more evident with increasing age.

physical development in children with Down syndrome is often slower than development of children without Down syndrome. For example, because of poor muscle tone, a child with Down syndrome may be slow to learn to turn over, sit, stand, and walk. Despite these delays, children with Down syndrome can learn to participate in physical exercise activities like other children. It may take children with Down syndrome longer than other children to reach developmental milestones, but they will eventually meet many of these milestones.

Intellectual and Developmental Symptoms

Cognitive impairment, problems with thinking and learning, is common in people with Down syndrome and usually ranges from mild to moderate. Only rarely is Down syndrome associated with severe cognitive impairment.

Other common cognitive and behavioral problems may include

• Short attention span
• Poor judgment
• Impulsive behavior
• Slow learning
• Delayed language and speech development

Most children with Down syndrome develop the communication skills they need, although it might take longer for them to do so compared with other children. Early, ongoing speech and language interventions to encourage expressive language and improve speech are particularly helpful.