“When you focus on someone's disability you'll overlook their abilities, beauty and uniqueness. Once you learn to accept and love them for who they are, you subconsciously learn to love yourself unconditionally.”
― Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir
Down Syndrome
What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder in which there is an extra chromosome on the 21st chromosome.This additional genetic material causes a person to have the characteristics of down syndrome like low muscle tone, an upward slant of the eyes, and many more. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, 1 in 619 babies are born with Down Syndrome, thus making it the most common genetic mutation.
There are 3 different types of Down Syndrome. Trisomy 21, Mosaicism, and Translocation. Trisomy 21 is the most common and is in 95% of cases. It happens when there are 3 pairs of the 21st chromosome instead of 2. Mosaicism is the least common and is only in 1% of cases. Mosaicism is where some cells have an extra copy of chromosome 21, caused by abnormal cell division in fertilization. Translocation is the only type in which someone can inherit it from their parents. This type occurs when a part of chromosome 21 breaks off and attaches to another chromosome, typically chromosome 14, during cell division. This is in 4% of cases.
Some parents have a greater chance of having a child with Down Syndrome. Those risk factors can include: the parent being older, having had a child with Down Syndrome already, and being a carrier of the Translocation type of Down Syndrome.
Children with Down Syndrome have numerous differences in appearance, some of which including a smaller head, a protruding tongue, short hands and fingers, and a relatively smaller body type.
Complications include: heart defects, leukemia, dementia, sleep apnea, obesity, seizures, etc.
Life expectancy: People with Down Syndrome can live to 60 and beyond, depending on the severity of their health problems.
HOW MUSIC HELPS:
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder in which there is an extra chromosome on the 21st chromosome.This additional genetic material causes a person to have the characteristics of down syndrome like low muscle tone, an upward slant of the eyes, and many more. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, 1 in 619 babies are born with Down Syndrome, thus making it the most common genetic mutation.
There are 3 different types of Down Syndrome. Trisomy 21, Mosaicism, and Translocation. Trisomy 21 is the most common and is in 95% of cases. It happens when there are 3 pairs of the 21st chromosome instead of 2. Mosaicism is the least common and is only in 1% of cases. Mosaicism is where some cells have an extra copy of chromosome 21, caused by abnormal cell division in fertilization. Translocation is the only type in which someone can inherit it from their parents. This type occurs when a part of chromosome 21 breaks off and attaches to another chromosome, typically chromosome 14, during cell division. This is in 4% of cases.
Some parents have a greater chance of having a child with Down Syndrome. Those risk factors can include: the parent being older, having had a child with Down Syndrome already, and being a carrier of the Translocation type of Down Syndrome.
Children with Down Syndrome have numerous differences in appearance, some of which including a smaller head, a protruding tongue, short hands and fingers, and a relatively smaller body type.
Complications include: heart defects, leukemia, dementia, sleep apnea, obesity, seizures, etc.
Life expectancy: People with Down Syndrome can live to 60 and beyond, depending on the severity of their health problems.
HOW MUSIC HELPS:
- Cognitive Development
- Memory through songs
- example, singing the ABC’s or a phone number to a tune
- Speech
- Singing
- speech and language use the left hemisphere of the brain and music uses the right hemisphere (Love & Webb, 1992). People with speech and language difficulties may respond to language more quickly when displayed through music.
- Motor Development
- Dance
- Helps with coordination
- Social Abilities
- Behavior and Self-Expression
- It helps people express themselves in a different way