School Psychology Quarterly
Jun, 2008, Vol 23(2)
This article discusses the study of causation and developmental course of Down syndrome. It measures the evidence based on treatments and/or therapies that one should consider during a psycho-educational evaluation. Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in children and occurs in 1 out of 600 live births. It is the leading cause of cognitive disorders and is associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities. Most all individuals with Down syndrome have noticeable physical characteristics including a flattened face, upward slanting eyes, small mouths, short broad hands and fingers, etc. Most individuals with Down syndrome also suffer from speech impairment.
Psych-educational assessments for children with Down syndrome are to predominately find the child’s strengths and weaknesses. They then compare those symptomologies to other similar conditions or disorders. The categories would include traits such as language development, verbal memory, motor development, visual spatial processing, social and behavioral development, hearing loss, reading acquisition, etc. When designing individualized interventions for children with Down syndrome one should focus on behavior phenotypes. Also, the interventions should be performed early rather than later. Delays in the onset of treatment result in poorer development in motor, language, and social skills.
Research has found that placing children with Down syndrome in a regular education classroom will benefit their social and emotional development. Studies show that the language skills of children with Down syndrome that were placed in “special schools” were 2 ½ years behind children with Down syndrome that were placed in regular “mainstream” schools. Other ways children with Down syndrome benefit from being in a regular classroom are their speech, behavior, social development, and academic skills. Down syndrome wasn’t always viewed as a high-need group and there is much more research needed for evidence-based interventions in the classroom.
References:
Book:
Cast, P.C. (2008). Chosen: A House of Night Novel / P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin.
Article:
Ku, G. (2008). Learning to de-escalate: The effects of regret in escalation of commitment. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 105(2), 221-232. doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2007.08.002
Website:
Drums from Africa. (2002). Retrieved May 17, 2005, from http://www.abcd.com/africa/b2k
Interview:
(A. Bruce, personal communication, November 15, 2012)
Children with Down Syndrome: Implications for
Assessment and Intervention in the School
General Psychology 1030 D21
Joyce Cartor
November 15, 2012
References: November 15, 2012
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Step by Step: Heather’s Story Journal Entry In this case study, Heather is regarded as an exceptional learner with Down’s syndrome that becomes socialized into a school where she engages in full inclusion as a special needs student. This impacts her comfort level as she participates in a new surrounding with other students whom are considered to be mostly nonexceptional learners, or nondisabled students. A main key learning from this documentary is the importance of interventional analysis because early intervention works together to execute preventive action in making sure Heather’s individualized needs are fulfilled, to help her adapt well and smoothly transition into this new environment. Upon further analyzation of the evaluation into the program by a multidisciplinary team with teachers applying inclusion as the specially designed instruction created for Heather includes minimal assistance provided in a least restrictive environment for her teacher to carry out a drastically modified curriculum in order for her needs to adjust to her grade level.…
- 390 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
2.1 Explain How Children and Young People’s Development Is Influenced by a Range of Personal Factors
A child with learning problems may be many developmental years behind their peers; this will have a big impact on what they can do in all areas of development including physical skills, social skills and intellectual skills. They may find it especially hard to interact with children of the same age or stay interested in conversation. They may also need to have one-to-one lessons at school to help educate them as they may not be at the same cognitive stage as peers. This may leave them feeling left out, however, some children may have a learning disability that is severe enough for them not to realise they are different.…
- 701 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Children and young peoples development can be influenced by a range of personal factors. If a child has a disability it may prevent the child from developing in one or more areas, they may feel excluded and maybe have not got enough support to promote development. If a child has learning difficulties they will struggle to develop as it may take them longer to understand different things. A child’s health can also be a major factor of their development, they need the correct diet, may be stressed of their home living conditions can also affect their development. Sensory impairment can also affect children as they may not be able to afford the resources they need to promote development such as glasses.…
- 1849 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Everything changed when my mother brought her to the United States. She was able to go to school with people who has down syndrome.…
- 304 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The most common of these characteristics being “oval-shaped eyes, a flattened nasal bridge, and small eyes and mouth” (Holliday). Individuals that have Down Syndrome will also have a higher chance to “be short and gain weight” (Holliday). These are many of the traits that are visible to the eye, but people with Down Syndrome are also likely to have hearing, visual, and heart problems. Although these inner traits are possible, they are much less likely to happen with a fifty to sixty percent chance of occurring unlike the eighty percent chance of the outer traits. Another very rare trait that may occur is that a child may not speak. Tricia Fauske recalls that by the time her son was three “he wasn’t speaking” (Holliday), and this was the first time that a doctor had used the term “disabled” when dealing with her son. Although this was a life changing event, it never once changed the way that she or the rest of her family, her husband and older son, looked at their…
- 891 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Children with Downâ€TMs syndrome do learn to walk, talk and be toilet-trained, but in general will meet these developmental milestones later than their ordinary peers. ADHD/ADD: Children with attention deficit and/or hyperactivity face many difficulties as they grow up. As infants, those later diagnosed with ADHD are often described to have been excitable, irritable, colicky, or inconsolable. Often they are very physically active, easily distracted, and can be extremely sensitive to sights, sounds and touch, which can make traditional soothing methods seem…
- 1479 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Hi Merilee, I enjoyed reading your post, I agree with your statement, children with learning disabilities, are just like any other children without an disability, they experience varying degrees of social acceptance. Teachers have different levels of influence in a child’s social acceptance. Recognizing them and understanding how to help a child achieve the best possible results is extremely important. Teaching can be challenging, setting goals, using classroom management and classroom curriculum design to motivate a student isn’t an easy task. Your example of how a teacher can influence a child’s level of acceptance by treating the student with honor and respect. Talking to them in a way that is not condescending, also giving them…
- 128 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Although many theories have been developed, it is not known what actually causes Down syndrome. Some professionals believe that hormonal abnormalities, X-rays, viral infections, immunologic problems, or genetic predisposition may be the cause of the improper cell division resulting in Down syndrome.…
- 1276 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Down syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically.…
- 3144 Words
- 13 Pages
Good Essays -
Although Down Syndrome is known to be caused by having an extra chromosome, there is no known cause for why this occurs. The characteristics of individuals with Down Syndrome are very similar throughout this population. The average IQ is usually between 35-50, which is classified as having moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. The most common physical signs are upward slanting eyes (also called almond shaped) and a single crease in the palm of the hand. Other signs are decreased muscle tone, flattened nose, excess skin at the nape of the neck, small mouth, and small ears. These individuals also are known for being extremely flexible. Less noticeable symptoms are the separated joints between the bones of the skull. It is also very common for these individuals to have “Brushfield spots”. These are white or gray spots that are clearly visible on the iris. (Down syndrome). A very common health risk associated with Down syndrome is Congenital heart disease.…
- 1033 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
With Sara’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome, she is already displaying some motor and other developmental delays. Her mother has also stressed her desire for Sara to be developmentally on track. Assessments to be considered include: the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III), the Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP), the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS-2), and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile. The PDMS-2 would identify motor delays and help with treatment planning (___________). The Bayley-III provides measurements of cognitive, sensory and motor development (____________). While Sara does not demonstrate any explicit shows of sensory disorders, she may be adverse to chewable solids due to sensory…
- 348 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Therapists commonly work with mentally handicapped children in order to teach them how to become functional in society and improve their quality of life. Occupational therapists will commonly have at least one down syndrome patient at some point during their career. 400,000 Americans have down syndrome and 6,000 babies are born in The United States with down syndrome each year. This makes down syndrome the most common genetic condition (ndss, 2012). Therefore, an occupational therapist can expect to have several down syndrome patients in their career. Children with down syndrome typically need help with fine motor skills, self-care (grooming, feeding, dressing, etc.) , skills in school (handwriting, cutting, sharing, etc.) (ndss, 2012) and any other childhood activities such as games that other children can do easily but might be difficult for someone that has down syndrome. The type of down syndrome a client has and the motivation of the client and family determine how long the client requires therapy, but down syndrome clients typically receive therapy into adulthood. Once the client has reached adulthood, therapists will teach job skills and help the client find a job suitable for the client's skills and interests. Then, clients are monitored the rest of their life to make sure the client maintains as independent as possible. Since the average life expectancy of a down syndrome patient is 60…
- 1756 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays -
Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic disorders, occurring one in every 600 births (Davis, 2008). 3,500-5,000 children are born with Down syndrome every year in the United States alone (Pueschel, 2008). Down syndrome or mongolism was first identified by John Langdon Down in 1866 although the syndrome has been around for many centuries. In fact, according to many paintings dated back to the sixteenth century show pictures of children with Down syndrome like features (Carr, 1995). Down started the “cure” movement in the nineteenth century that promoted finding a cure for mongolism (Gibson, 1978). However he later found out that Down syndrome occurs during the early stages of fertilization and could not be cured with the technology existing at that time (Gibson, 1978).…
- 1065 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Genetics play such an vital role in our development. Every individual carries genes from their mother and their father. Characteristics such as height, eye color, if we have curly or straight hair are all determined through the our genes and specifically our chromosomes. Many times, parents inadvertently pass genes on to their children through their DNA that may contribute to developmental disorders such as Down Syndrome. In this paper, I will explain the role of genetics and how it plays a part in development. I will also explain how the genes of two parents can influence the traits and characteristics of their offspring.…
- 642 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder. It occurs in about 1 of every 800 births. People with Down syndrome may have mild to severe learning disabilities. Physical symptoms include a small skull, extra folds of skin under the eyes, and a protruding tongue. People with Down syndrome are subject to a variety of medical problems including heart abnormalities and thyroid gland dysfunction. Survival rates have been increased dramatically in recent years as problems specific to Down syndrome become known, allowing the early treatment. The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome now approaches that of people with out it. Usually it 's around 55 years old. You would have numerous abnormalities; it wouldn 't go over well in school. People don 't accustom to that very well in public schools.…
- 657 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays