What types of problems do children with Down syndrome typically have?
About 40 to 50 percent of babies with Down syndrome have heart defects. Some defects are minor and may be treated with medications, while others may require surgery. All babies with Down syndrome should be examined by a pediatric cardiologist, a physician who specializes in heart diseases of children, and have an echocardiogram (a procedure that evaluates the structure and function of the heart by using sound waves recorded on an electronic sensor that produce a moving picture of the heart and heart valves) in the first two months of life, so that any heart defects can be treated. About 10 percent of babies with Down syndrome are born with intestinal malformations that require surgery. More than 50 percent have some visual or hearing impairment. Common visual problems include strabismus (crossed eyes), near- or farsightedness and cataracts. Most visual problems can be improved with glasses, surgery or other treatments. A pediatric ophthalmologist (a physician who specializes in compreh
