Down Syndrome Characteristics, Effects and Treatment

The most common type, referred to as Non-disjunction or Trisomy 21, occurs in approximately 95% of those diagnosed and usually has more of the defining symptoms, effects and traits.

Children will often have a variety of down syndrome characteristics that include medical conditions as well as a mild to moderate cognitive disability characterized by slow learning. However, the severity of symptoms will vary in each child.

Treatment typically involves responding to the medical conditions and providing positive supports for any behavioral/cognitive challenges. Recently, there has been promising evidence of using nutritional interventions as Down syndrome treatment that has shown to improve and prevent many of the associated characteristics.

Down syndrome physical characteristics⁽¹⁾:

• Shorter than average
• Pronounced bags or folds under the eyes, epicanthic fold
• Hypotonia or weak muscles in the body
• Eyes that slant upward
• Short and wide neck, stocky arms and legs
• Transverse plamar crease – single crease across the center of the palms
• Smaller ears set low to the face
• Forehead that is high and broad
• Flat nasal bridge between the nose and eyes
• Smaller mouth and head
• Brushfield’s spots on the colored part of the eye that do not affect the child’s vision
• Protruding tongue
• Teeth that may come in late that may end up crooked and out of normal sequence

• Language impairment
• Delayed social development
• Impulsiveness
• Short attention span
• Sensory issues
• Slow Development in mobility (crawling and walking)
• ‘Autistic’ Like Symptoms