A Personalized Approach to Managing Down Syndrome
Every child with Down syndrome has their own unique needs, symptoms, and challenges. That’s why the pediatric occupational therapists at Flourishing Lives always strive to create personalized treatment plans to help your child thrive in the way that’s best for them.
Down syndrome occurs when a child is born with a copy of their 21st chromosome. This simple change affects how their body develops during pregnancy and after birth, leading to particular physical features and cognitive differences.
While a child with Down syndrome will face challenges as they get older, pediatric occupational therapy can give them the tools they need to grow into their full potential. Schedule an appointment at our St. Clair Shores or Rochester, MI clinic to learn more.
The Signs and Symptoms of Down Syndrome
Down syndrome causes three main symptoms:
Distinct Physical Features
These features include a small head, ears, and mouth and upward slanting eyes.
Low Muscle Tone
Down syndrome causes decreased muscle tone, which can cause children with the condition to take longer to reach key developmental milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up, or walking. However, they will achieve them eventually!
Cognitive Differences
Down syndrome can cause mild to moderate cognitive impairment, although what this looks like exactly will vary from person to person. Examples include short attention span or delayed language development.
It’s also important to recognize that other health conditions can accompany Down syndrome, including autism spectrum disorder, hearing loss, or heart abnormalities. That’s why we emphasize creating custom care plans for every child based on their needs.
Managing Down Syndrome with Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Our primary goal at Flourishing Lives is to help your child thrive! We want to provide them with the tools, strategies, and techniques necessary to complete day-to-day tasks at school or home.
We do this in a way that focuses on building rapport with your child so they’ll feel comfortable during their therapy sessions. We then work with you and your child to set specific goals and develop a plan of action that will help your child reach them.
While individual treatment plans will vary, here are a few of the concerns we can help address:
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Self-care activities, such as grooming or getting dressed
- Self-advocacy skills, particularly as your child gets older
- Social skills
In addition to working directly with your child, we involve the family and other loved ones, helping reinforce the work done during therapy sessions throughout your child’s day-to-day life. This process can also help you better understand your child’s needs and what they’re going through.
No matter your child’s needs, we’ll find a way to address them! Schedule an initial consultation at Flourishing Lives today.
Begin Your Journey To A Flourishing Life
Easy Steps To Start Transforming Your Life Today
Ready to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life? At Flourishing Lives, starting is as simple as reaching out. Our compassionate team is ready to guide you through our straightforward evaluation process, creating a customized plan tailored to you or your loved one’s unique needs. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together
EVALUATION
Work side by side with our team to learn how we can help you and your family thrive using our FL Method that is rooted in a play based approach.
TREATMENT
30-60+ Sessions
Customized Plan
1-3 Sessions Per Week.
Therapeutic breaks from Treatment as Recommended.
Consultative Services/Membership
Become a part of our family to get tips, tricks and help other families through a community and collaboration.