Question

Your next patient is Luke, a boy with Down syndrome. Describe how you will prepare for this special needs patient, and identify what techniques you can use to make Luke feel more comfortable and have a positive experience.

Answer 1

Down syndrome: A genetic disorder typically associated with a characteristic facial appearance, developmental and cognitive delays.

People with Down syndrome present varied levels of intellectual and physical disabilities. The affected children and adults have some distinct facial features, but not all affected individuals will have the same set of features.

Techniques used are as follows:

•    I will encourage patient and counsel about how to communicate with others.
• Recogniza his emotions and teach accordingly as follows.
• Emotional and behavioral therapies work to find useful responses to both desirable and undesirable behaviors. Children with Down syndrome may become frustrated because of difficulty communicating, may develop compulsive behaviors, and may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other mental health issues. So, try to understand why a child is acting out, create ways and strategies for avoiding or preventing these situations from occurring, and teach better or more positive ways to respond to situations.
  • A psychologist, counselor, or other mental health professional can help a child deal with emotions and build coping and interpersonal skills.
  • The changes in hormone levels that adolescents experience during puberty can cause them to become more aggressive. Behavioral therapists can help teenagers recognize their intense emotions and teach them healthy ways to reach a feeling of calmness.
  • Parents may also benefit from guidance on how to help a child with Down syndrome manage day-to-day challenges and reach his or her full potential.
  • Physical therapy includes activities and exercises that help build motor skills, increase muscle strength, and improve posture and balance.
  • Speech-language therapy
    • Children with Down syndrome often learn to speak later than their peers.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • This type of therapy teaches self-care skills such as eating, getting dressed, writing, and using a computer.
    • An occupational therapist might offer special tools that can help improve everyday functioning, such as a pencil that is easier to grip.
    • At the high school level, an occupational therapist could help teenagers identify jobs, careers, or skills that match their interests and strengths.