Growth and development

[dad777]

At what age can you stop worrying about your child having Down Syndrome?  Is this noticeable at birth?  My wife had her 1st ultrasound and the technician noticed an echogenic foci in the left ventricle.  No other markers were found.  A second ultrasound revealed no other markers.  My son just turned 7 months and he has been developing great so far.  Should I still worry if he has Down Syndrome?  Should our pediatrician have noticed anything?

[debby123]

I have a Sister that turned 50 this year . She is the best thing that ever happened to our family. the thing i cant stress enough is have plenty of Patience be strong and don't cave in because of there handicap. I started all over with my sister 3 yrs ago due to a stroke . she is back to 95 percent of her normal now. I would not let her get away with quiting . she tried to use her left side when she is right handed. anyway the point is to raise your child like you would with there brother or sister. And if you need help there are lots of programs to help you. just ask. thanks for hearing my view. debby123

[SimplyStar]

God Bless you Debbie  A loving family is the best thing that can happen to a person with Downs .  My son has made my other four children much better people. Patience is indeed the key word.  I hated to retire from my position as supervisor/job coach in our 450 capacity facility. We placed so many out in the community to work alongside  others,  the acceptance of my son has been fantastic, he is a member of the community now, not hiden away as it was just a short time ago.  I am very proud to be from Iowa where Senator Tom Harkin got the ADA passed and it has opened the doors to all. I worked with returning stroke people and by returning your sister to 95% you did a very remarkable thing.

[clasc]

DOWNS SYNDROME HAPPENS AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION.  IT IS A GENETIC DISORDER AND DOES HAPPEN AT A "LATER" STAGE.  IF YOUR CHILD HAS DS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED UPON BIRTH.

[clasc]

CORRECTION...............DOES NOT HAPPEN AT A LATER "STAGE"

[she1162]

I can't tell by reading all of these if your original question was answered or not. When my 16 year old was born, they ( the doctor's) came to us within hours to let us know of their suspision of him having D.S. Their eyes are almond shaped, they have a flat neck, their ears are small and lower on the face, there's a line in the palm of their hand that is normally straight instead of curved. There are a lot of other traits the doctors look for before anouncing to the parents that a child could be different than what they had expected. Perhaps you could contact your local school district and tell them of your suspicions, if he doesn't have d.s. there are a lot of other things they test. I pray your child is "normal" for you. We consider our son normal for who God intended him to be.

[cartkai]

i am studying child development from the age of 4 years and comparing a 4 year old without down syndrome to a 4 year old with down syndrome do you have any information. many thanks. cartkai