CAN DOWN SYNDROME OCCUR FROM SOMETHING THE MOTHER DID DURING PREGNANCY?
Down Syndrome is an abnormality that occurs at the moment of conception. Although scientists are still studying the reasons why it occurs, it is clearly not a result the mother may have done during pregnancy. WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME? At the turn of the twentieth century most children born with Down Syndrome died in early childhood, primarily due to heart disease, leukemia, and other serious illnesses. In recent years there have been many medical breakthroughs in the treatment of these conditions. Although the average lifespan varies, life expectancy today of a person with Down Syndrome will be fifty-five and beyond. ARE CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME HOPELESSLY RETARDED? All individuals with Down Syndrome will have some degree of mental deficiency. This can range from very mild to profound. The average range however, is in the mild to moderate range which will still allow the child with Down Syndrome to develop into a self-supportive and fully functioning
