Strength, agility, speed, coordination and reaction time form the basis from which more complex skills such as throwing, catching and kicking can be developed. When these skills are refined and practiced, games and sports can be played.
All individuals with Down syndrome have some degree of intellectual problems. For example, a child with Down syndrome will have learning difficulties which can range from mild to moderate. These learning difficulties include memory problems such as having a short term memory which is a short term problem. They might also have concentration problems such as low attention spans and they might have difficulty problem solving so school work is made very difficult for them. They may also sometimes have difficulty understanding the consequences of their actions.
Someone with downs syndrome is affected intellectually also because of the amount of school that they miss due to hospital appointments which means that they will not be learning at the same rate as their peers. This can be helped by receiving extra help from teachers or tutors which can help them to keep up as much as possible with others their age.
Down syndrome affects a child's ability to learn in different ways, although most have mild to moderate intellectual difficulties. Children with Down syndrome can learn, and are capable of developing skills throughout their lives. They learn more slowly and have difficulties with complex reasoning and judgment, but they do have the capacity to learn. The only thing is that they take longer to develop skills and they reach their goals at a different pace. This is a long term effect as it takes time to gradually build skills, but with the right support they will achieve their goals.
There is often a misunderstanding that people with Down syndrome have little or no ability to learn, which is untrue as people with Down syndrome develop over the course of their lifetime. The learning potential of a person with Down syndrome can be boosted and maximized through good
education, higher expectations without placing too much pressure on the individual, and plenty of encouragement from teachers, family and friends. This is a long term effect as learning is something they will do gradually over a long period of time and possibly quite slowly, which takes a lot of patience and hard work.
For example, most children with Down syndrome experience a full range of emotions and have their own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses. Most are generally happy, sociable and outgoing which is a positive effect as it increases their confidence and makes them feel happier and more content with themselves.
On the other hand, others may sometimes feel incapable of taking to things that they feel angry or sad about which negatively affects their emotions as they are unable to think straight, and may affect their behaviour negatively and they may have difficult temperaments to manage.
No two people with Down syndrome will have identical personalities, although they often share certain behaviours or coping mechanisms. For example, many people with Down’s syndrome prefer having a daily routine to follow which is their way of dealing with the complex things in everyday life.
Some people with Down syndrome may have some behaviours and coping mechanisms in common, but at the same time they also face an increased risk for certain psychological conditions. For example, anxiety disorders, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder have all been reported in Down syndrome. To treat an individual for these disorders is the same way an individual without Down syndrome would be treated, for example behaviour modification, counselling and possibly medication.
An individual with Down syndrome is socially affected as they lack social abilities. This means that they find it difficult to communicate and associate with others. For example, the social skills that they often lack include interacting with children and adults, social understanding and empathy, friendships, play and leisure skills, personal and social independence and displaying appropriate behaviour in social situations. These are
These are things that children and adults with Down syndrome, can build on throughout their lifetime to enhance their social inclusion and quality of life. The opportunity to establish friendships may be affected by social independence and by a delay in speech and language. For example, to help with this parents and teachers can encourage friendship opportunities of children during primary school and teenage years.
The importance of friendships with both unaffected people and people with similar disabilities is stressed, as is the need to develop play, leisure and independence skills. Most children and teenagers with Down syndrome have age-appropriate social behaviour, but some children do develop difficult behaviours which cause family stress which impacts their family and also affects social and educational inclusion. This can be helped by having therapy and possibly anger management sessions to monitor behaviour. This is a short term effect as it can be managed with the right support from friends and family and friendships can be made over time. It is also a long term effect as it can take a while for behaviour and social issues to be overcome.
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hollieddhxx (student)
