What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder also known as ‘Trisomy 21’. Individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome have an extra copy of the 21st chromosome.
How are speech, language and feeding skills affected?
Speech, language and feeding skills can all be affected by anatomical, physiological, and intellectual differences secondary to a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. Children may present with decreased cognitive skills, hearing loss, and decreased muscle tone/strength/coordination which are all related to speech production, language development and feeding skills. As with many developmental disorders, no two children present with the same abilities, however children who have Down Syndrome will usually experience challenges with communication skills to varying degrees.
Feeding: Babies with Down syndrome often have oral-motor deficits, impacting their ability to effectively and safely feed. Babies may need assistance in developing their suck/swallow pattern and/or may require modifications to nipple size and flow rate.
Language: Expressive language milestones are typically delayed in children with Down Syndrome. Many children are late talkers, with delayed babbling and word production. At times, children are more inclined to use gestures/sign language vs speech.
Speech: Articulation, or the way a child’s speech sounds, is often affected in children with Down Syndrome due to decreased muscle tone or due to hearing impairment. A child with Down Syndrome may be difficult to understand and may produce error patterns on specific sounds.
How can a speech-language pathologist help?
Children with Down Syndrome face many challenges relating to communication and feeding, however, speech language pathologists are trained to help and develop interventions to increase a child’s ability to effectively communicate and safely feed in their daily lives. A speech-language pathologist provides direct intervention to foster language development as well as teach parents communication strategies to increase a child’s language output. Additionally, speech language pathologists are trained in assessing and providing treatment to correct speech sound errors. Finally, in addition to speech and language, speech language pathologists also specialize in feeding therapy to promote safe and effective feeding and swallowing.