Down Syndrome

Stories of Family Hope: Down Syndrome

The Family Hope Center works with the Linck Family to help their baby daughter, Hannah, who has been diagnosed at birth with Down Syndrome. Please view this brief, unscripted video that explains what we can do to help a child diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

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FHC Clinical Outcome Scores

More Information: The Midbrain More detailed information on the functional areas of the Midbrain. The Cortex More detailed information on the functional areas of the Cortex.

Down Syndrome Testimonial Read how FHC has helped other childrenWhat is Down Syndrome?

Please visit “An Introduction to Your Child’s Brain” before proceeding

What is Down syndrome?

Following a medical model of diagnosis, Down syndrome is a congenital disorder in which a person is born with three copies of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). Clinical features include moderate to severe “mental retardation”, slanting eyes, a broad short skull, broad hands and short fingers. Other congenital abnormalities can include heart defects, esophageal atresia and an increased incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia.

We find that these children are primarily hurt in the midbrain and cortical areas of the brain.

What Can We Do For Your Child?

It is generally believed that children with Down syndrome cannot be made whole, or even significantly improve. It is our experience, however, that children with Down syndrome can improve. Indeed, we have experienced these children becoming excellent readers, talkers and athletes, and have seen them enter school at grade levels with their peers. We believe that these successes happen when the specific parts of the brain that are disorganized or malformed are carefully identified, and a treatment program specifically designed for your child by our clinical Team that effectively targets those parts of the brain is put into practice.

First, the Team at The Family Hope Center performs a complete evaluation of your child to determine the precise location, nature and extent of their specific injury. A comprehensive treatment program is then developed by the Team that specifically targets the areas of the cortex and brain stem that are disorganized in your child, and teaches you, the parents, how to perform the program at home with your child.

If your child has been diagnosed with Down syndrome, they are essentially hurt quite a bit in the brain stem, to a lesser degree in the limbic brain and a moderate amount in the cortex. They have specific metabolic and dietary issues that need to be aggressively addressed. Therefore, we begin with a heavy sensory program, an aggressive passive and active respiratory program, and give your child a great deal of opportunity to crawl and creep to mature the pons and midbrain. As he or she goes through this process, you will notice a great deal of understanding developing. Once this occurs, the implementation of a real, thorough traditional or homeschooling education program can commence.

Mental Retardation Testimonial “The doctors told us that he would be profoundly mentally retarded.”After FHC Today Colin can see, read, and walk with assistance, and is currently developing his language skills.

Next Step? Select the Help for You and Your Special Needs Child

Down syndrome is a congenital disorder in which a person is born with three copies of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). More Down Syndrome definition >

Brain impairments associated with Down Syndrome Children with Down Syndrome are primarily hurt throughout the midbrain and cortical areas of the brain. This affects speech, understanding, vision and the development of manual function. Children with these symptoms often have mild to severe problems in the midbrain area; therefore, they display problems with basic hearing, visual convergence, sensation and physical coordination. These children are often also much delayed in mobility development.

Next Step? Select the Help for You and Your Special Needs Child

“Without hesitation I would recommend an evaluation to anybody for any child.” Lisa Repka