What is Down Syndrome

Down syndrome was first described by the English scientist John Langdon Down in 1866, and its chromosomal origin was substantiated in 1959.

According to statistics, one of 700-800 newborns is born with Down syndrome. This ratio is the same in different countries, climatic zones, and social fields. It does not depend on the lifestyle of the parents, habits harmful to their health, food, well-being, education, skin color or nationality. The risk of having a child with Down Syndrome increases with the age of the mother (35 and over). Boys and girls are born with the same frequency, and parents have a normal set of chromosomes.

It is never possible to predict exactly what a child will look like when he grows up. This applies equally to every baby, including a child with Down Syndrome. It is important to remember that such a child, in spite of certain peculiarities, will start to develop, to giggle and laugh, to crawl and walk, to communicate with his parents and other people, to express joy, sadness. She/he  will learn to eat and drink, wash and use bathroom, get dressed and undressed, help with household works, protect herself/himself and take care of others, make friends and acquire interests. It is very notable that children with Down syndrome are quite capable of attending kindergarten and then going to school. The presence of an extra chromosome creates a number of features that are common to most people with Down Syndrome.

Source: Down Syndrome, Handbook for Parents, Yerevan 2018

”Arev-children” Children’s Health and Development Center NGO