Growth And The Right Therapy For Children With Down Syndrome

Patients with Down Syndrome have a chromosome number of 21, which amounts to 3. This affects the physical and mental health of the sufferer. Patients will experience growth delays compared to normal children their age.

Physically they have flat facial features, short necks, small slanted eyes and the outer corners of the eyes are drawn upwards, large and protruding tongues, small and low ears, short toes and hands, single and straight hand lines, and short stature. Mentally they have mild to moderate mental retardation with an IQ of 35-70. In addition, they usually have health problems such as congenital heart defects.

Therapy for people with Down Syndrome is an effort to create and stimulate optimal growth and development and maximize their potential.
1. ) Physical therapy
Is an activity and exercise to build motor skills, increase muscle strength, and improve posture and body balance. This therapy can be done by turning the body upside down, crawling, reaching around objects, etc
2. ) Talk Therapy
People with Down Syndrome usually experience speech delays, so therapy is needed that aims to improve communication skills and use language more effectively. This therapy is in the form of practicing pronunciation, conversation, understanding, learning, and remembering words
3. ) Emotional and behavioral therapy
This therapy aims to help children behave and respond to situations that occur in a better and more positive way, so that compulsive or hyperactive behavior will be reduced.
4. ) Occupational Therapy
This therapy teaches daily self-care skills such as eating and dressing, so they find ways to complete daily tasks according to their needs and abilities.

Good cooperation is needed between parents, therapists, and doctors so that the growth and development of children with Down Syndrome take place optimally. Parents can consult their child's growth and development with trusted doctors through the mDoc application.