There is no cure for Down's syndrome, but there are a number of treatments that can help someone with the condition to lead a healthy, active and more independent life.
Emotional impact
In some cases, it may not be apparent that a baby has Down's syndrome until after they are born. Giving birth can be exciting, scary and tiring, and finding out that your baby has Down's syndrome can be an unexpected shock.
If you have recently found out that your child has Down's syndrome, you may feel a range of emotions, such as fear, sadness or confusion. Some people feel numb, while others feel immediately protective towards their child.
There is no right or wrong way to react after discovering that your child has Down's syndrome. Finding out more about the condition will give you a better understanding about how it may affect your child's life, as well as your own. Many parents find it reassuring to learn more about Down's syndrome.
Support groups
If your child has Down's syndrome, it is important to remember that you are not alone in your situation. Thousands of people in the UK have Down's syndrome. Also, many people, such as family members, carers and friends, have experience in supporting and caring for those with the condition.
You may find it helpful to talk about your experiences with other families. They can offer you advice and talk through any fears or concerns that you may have.
If you cannot find an appropriate support group, your GP should be able to put you in touch with one. The Down's Syndrome Association also provides information and support for people with Down's syndrome, as well as their families and friends.
Early intervention
Early intervention programmes are specifically designed for children with disabilities and learning difficulties. They focus on providing support to babies and children with Down's syndrome, from when they are born until they are five years old.
Early intervention programmes provide healthcare, education and treatments, such as speech therapy and physiotherapy. They also give advice and support to the family looking after the child.
Early intervention is important because the earlier a child with Down's syndrome receives the necessary help and support, the more independent and healthy they are likely to be later in life.
Your GP can give you further information about early intervention. You can also call the Down's Syndrome Association's helpline for more advice about early intervention (0845 230 0372). It is open from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm.
Care team
There are a number of different healthcare professionals who will monitor and treat someone with Down's syndrome. These may include the following:
Physiotherapist
A physiotherapist is a trained healthcare professional who uses physical methods, such as massage and manipulation, to promote health and wellbeing.
A child with Down's syndrome will often have physiotherapy from a young age because it can help them to improve their range of movement. Babies with Down's syndrome may have poor muscle tone, so a physiotherapist can help them to learn to roll over, sit up or walk.
Speech therapist
Children with Down's syndrome may have problems learning to speak, so a speech therapist can help them to learn to communicate more effectively.
Occupational therapist
Occupational therapists give people practical support so that they can live more independently. For example, due to poor muscle tone (hypotonia) many people with Down's syndrome have problems with tasks that require a certain degree of physical co-ordination, such as feeding and dressing.
An occupational therapist can help a person with Down's syndrome by breaking down tasks into smaller steps, then helping them to learn how to complete the task, step-by-step.
See the Health A-Z topic about Occupational therapy for more information about this type of treatment.
Dietitian
People with Down's syndrome may find it difficult to control their weight. Rates of obesity are particularly high among adults with Down's syndrome. An estimated half of all adults with Down's syndrome are obese.
The reasons for this are uncertain, but a combination of factors may be responsible; for example, having an underactive metabolism, which makes it more difficult to burn off calories, and leads to a less physically active lifestyle than those without the condition.
A dietitian (an expert in food and nutrition) can help someone with Down's syndrome to devise a dietary plan that is tailored to their needs. This will ensure that they are eating a healthy, nutritious and well-balanced diet.
GP
Your GP will help you to deal with any general health problems and some of the day-to-day management of Down's syndrome.
Social worker
People with Down's syndrome may need help in overcoming social problems, such as finding accommodation or applying for financial benefits. A social worker will help them to do this, enabling them to live more independently.
Audiologist
People with Down's syndrome sometimes have hearing problems - see Down's syndrome - complications. An audiologist (an expert in diagnosing and treating hearing conditions) will monitor your hearing in order to detect problems as soon as possible.
Ophthalmologist and orthoptists
An ophthalmologist is a health professional who specialises in treating eye conditions. People with Down's syndrome have an increased risk of developing eye problems, such as eye infections and cataracts.
An orthoptist often works with an ophthalmologist to treat eye conditions that involve problems with eye movement and focusing ability, such as squints (strabismus) or 'lazy eye' (amblyopia).
See Down's syndrome - complications for more information about the treatment of eye conditions in people with Down's syndrome.
Paediatrician
A paediatrician is a doctor who specialises in treating children. They will often help to co-ordinate all of the different types of treatment that your child needs.
Cardiologist
A cardiologist is someone who specialises in diagnosing and treating heart conditions. People with Down's syndrome have an increased risk of developing heart problems, so their heart must be checked regularly.
Monitoring
Children and adults with Down's syndrome need regular check-ups so that their health can be closely monitored.
As those with Down's syndrome are more likely to develop health problems, such as cataracts and hearing problems, it is very important to carefully monitor their health so that any problems can be detected and treated as soon as possible.
Someone with Down's syndrome will usually have their sight, hearing and thyroid function (a test to determine whether the thyroid gland is releasing the right amount of hormones into the body) regularly checked. Children with Down's syndrome will also have their growth monitored.
Living independently
With help and support, many people with Down's syndrome can live an active and independent life.
Many children with Down's syndrome are able to go to mainstream schools. However, if your child is severely affected by Down's syndrome, or you feel that they would benefit more from specialist schooling, there are a number of schools and other facilities that offer schooling specifically tailored to those with special needs.
Many young adults with Down's syndrome pursue further education. Some also gain employment, usually on a part-time basis, although this will depend on the individual. Many people with Down's syndrome enter loving relationships, although they may need guidance and support when it comes to things such as contraception.
Women with Down's syndrome tend to have a reduced fertility rate. This does not mean that they cannot conceive children, but it does make it more difficult. Those who decide to have children will usually need specialist guidance and support to help them cope with the physical and mental demands of a newborn baby. Most men with Down's syndrome are infertile.
If a woman has Down's syndrome, the chance of their child also having the condition is 35-50%. It is difficult to estimate the risk if both parents have the condition because most men are unable to have children. The risk of miscarriage and premature birth is also much greater in women who have Down's syndrome.
Although someone with Down's syndrome may never be able to live completely independently, many people with the condition can live on their own or with someone else. In most cases, people with Down's syndrome move into property that is owned and staffed by a housing association. The staff provide different levels of support, depending on the individual's particular needs.
