How will Downs syndrome affect the appearance of my child?
Down’s syndrome can affect you in many different ways. Some of the most obvious symptoms are those which affect your physical appearance. People with Down’s syndrome tend to have a number of typical physical features. Some people with the syndrome may only have a few of these features, while others may be more severely affected. Physical features of Down’s syndrome may include: – eyes which slant upwards, – small ears, – flat back of head, – protruding tongue, – small mouth, – flattened nose bridge, – white spots on the iris (the coloured part of the eye), known as Brushfield spots, – short fingers, – broad hands with a single crease across the palm, – loose skin on the back of the neck, – vertical skin folds (epicanthic folds) between the upper eyelids and inner corner of the eye, – loose joints (babies in particular may seem ‘floppy’), – poor muscle tone (hypotonia), and – low birth weight.
