How Does Down Syndrome affect a person?
Down syndrome affects people mentally, developmentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and financially.
The first thing that may strike you when you see someone with the condition is the face. People with DS often have a characteristic facial appearance. Please see more details in the images attached.
People with Down syndrome are more likely to be overweight than the general population. However, with increased knowledge on diets, noticeable improvement is being made to reduce this tendency.
Other things to look out for are sight and hearing problems, hypothyroidism, gut defects, and, above all, congenital heart defects in babies. Most of these can be managed.
Most people with DS struggle with learning disability. They may have less IQ than expected, which makes education a challenge but not an impossibility.
Developmental delays may affect them cognitively, in speech, and in the attainment of all milestones.
Emotional and social upsets come with discrimination, which is common, especially in Africa.
Down syndrome may affect the individual and his or her parents financially because of the high cost of care (especially in countries where the government does not take responsibility for their care). In some cases, parents spend more time at home providing work than at work.
In all, the quality of life a person with the condition lives is influenced by his environment and the availability of resources to cater to his needs.
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