Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra, third copy of the 21st chromosome (trisomy 21). It is accompanied by characteristic features of appearance, reduced muscle tone, and delays in psychomotor, speech, and cognitive development of varying severity. Down syndrome is a congenital feature, not a disease in the usual sense, and it is not the result of parenting.

Support for children with Down syndrome is comprehensive and covers motor, speech, cognitive, and social development; the specific set of sessions is tailored individually based on a consultation and assessment. An early start to sessions generally supports more confident acquisition of skills.

Does the center admit children with Down syndrome

Yes. The center works with complex diagnoses — including Down syndrome. The approach is built not from a diagnosis on paper but from the actual symptoms: first a functional assessment of movement, speech, and cognitive skills, then an individual program.

If a child has epileptic activity — which is not uncommon in children with genetic syndromes — a recent EEG report will be needed. If seizures occur more than twice a month, rehabilitation is not started until stabilization, and with epileptiform activity without frequent seizures the program is built in a gentle mode.

How the program is built

The core of the program in Down syndrome is working with muscle hypotonia and the steady development of skills:

• gross motor skills — exercise therapy and movement therapy: balance, sitting, standing, walking;
• fine motor skills and independence — occupational therapy: hand coordination, grip, self-care;
• speech — speech therapy, including work with the chewing and swallowing muscles;
• sensory integration — vestibular and tactile sensitivity, coordination;
• cognitive development — cognitive training and developmental activities in a playful form;
• methods of Chinese medicine — tuina massage and acupuncture to regulate muscle tone and improve circulation.

The set and intensity are chosen by the physician; sessions are grouped by the child's developmental level rather than by calendar age.

Honest goals

No clinic can "remove" the extra chromosome — promises to cure Down syndrome are dishonest. The goal of rehabilitation is different: to help the brain form skills that work around its weak spots, so the child moves, communicates, and copes with everyday tasks more confidently. Goals are set individually based on the assessment and are discussed with the family before the course begins.