Question
My baby is two years old and still can’t speak. His speech is unclear. He is much smaller than other children his age, and many of his other behaviors also differ from those of children in this age group. The family suspects he may have Down syndrome. What are the symptoms of Down syndrome?
Answer
Children with Down syndrome have intellectual disability, language development and behavioral disorders; the average age for beginning to speak is between 4-6 years old, with 95% having articulation defects: delayed motor development, clumsy and uncoordinated movements, unstable gait; growth and development disorders; distinctive facial features: wide eyes with upward slanting outer corners, epicanthal folds, low ear placement, low nasal bridge, wide and thick tongue, etc. About half of the children may also have congenital heart disease. Moreover, due to weakened immune function, they are prone to infectious diseases and leukemia. If they survive into adulthood, they often exhibit symptoms of senile dementia after the age of 30.