One baby out of every 800 is said to have Down syndrome. This is a condition where the child gets an extra chromosome 21 and hence it is also called trisomy 21. This extra genetic material causes physical and mental delay in a child’s development. This condition has got its name from a British Physician called John Langdon Down, as he described this particular syndrome way back in 1959. The average IQ is lesser in people who are affected by Down syndrome and the severity level may vary from person to person. This condition cannot be treated but however, it can be detected before birth.

The symptoms of Down syndrome include excess skin at nape of neck, small ears, flattened nose, small mouth, low muscle tone at the time of birth, sutures or separated joints found amid the bones of the skull, upward slanting eyes, single crease in palm, smaller and abnormally shaped head, certain white spots on the pupil or the colored part of the eye and short wide hands which have short fingers. They are shorter than most people of their age are as their physical development is slower.

Children with Down syndrome are said to have impulsive behavior, short attention span, poor judgment and slow learning capacities. Because of this, they also get quite frustrated. Certain medical conditions are generally associated with Down syndrome and because of this, there are some tests that are advised to these people. Some of these tests include ECG, X-rays of gastrointestinal tract and chest, eye exam, hearing tests, dental exam, thyroid testing etc.

The complications of this syndrome include blockage of airway during sleep, eye problems, hearing loss, heart problems, spinal cord compression injury, occasional ear infections, gastrointestinal blockage, and weakness of spine especially at the nape of the neck. They may also have thyroid disorders, malignancies, infertility, and a risk of developing epilepsy. A proper examination at birth of the child, a plastic surgery to correct the features, therapies to improve cognitive development, regular follow-ups and alternative treatments may help in treating children with Down syndrome.

If anyone you know has Down syndrome, he or she can get help from Canadian Disability Corporation in the form of a disability tax credit. This way, people with Down syndrome can claim some income credits on certain tax return forms. For this, you will have to check if you are eligible to receive these tax credits. In case you are, then you will have to fill up a form online on the Canadian Disability Corporation website. A professional from CDC will then assist you on how to apply for a disability tax credit.