Down Syndrome Clinic

by Julie Bierman Gee, MS, CCC-SLP

by Patricia C. Winders, PT

As a part of my work at Kennedy Krieger Institute's Down Syndrome Clinic, I have seen 17 children with Down syndrome and autistic spectrum disorder (DS-ASD). Of these 17, I only saw eight enough to observe their gross motor development. The others ranged in age from 4.5 to 16 years. I have noticed some similarities among the children I have seen, but because there are so few, I am not certain these observations are true for all children with DS-ASD.

by Bonnie Patterson, MD

In the past, it was thought children with Down syndrome who exhibited autistic behaviors were simply exhibiting these behaviors secondary to severe or profound retardation. We now realize children with Down syndrome can also have true autism spectrum disorder and that this occurrence is not rare. Little has been written regarding the dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autistic spectrum disorder (DS-ASD), and currently only 12 cases are reported in the medical literature.

by George T. Capone, MD

Special Issue Articles on Down Syndrome & Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Disability Solutions -- A Resource for Families and Others Interested in Down Syndrome and Related Disabilities is a publication issued by the Enoch-Gelbard Foundation, a non-profit, independent, private foundation.

Disability Solutions: Volume 3, Issues 5-6:

More Than Down Syndrome: A Parent's View -- Joan E. Guthrie Medlen

by Jeanette M. Curry, MS, OTR

An occupational therapist specializes in the development of fine-motor and self-care skills. Examples of such skills include: manipulating toys, using a pencil for writing, drinking from a bottle and cup and eating from a spoon. Infants and children with Down syndrome are typically delayed in developing these skills and have common characteristics which affect their fine motor development and ability to eat.

Characteristics which can interfere with the development of fine motor skills are:

by Pat Winders, PT

by Pat Winders, PT

A pediatric physical therapist specializes in how children move in their environment and what movements are necessary to develop gross motor skills. Examples of gross motor skills include: propping on arms in stomach-lying, rolling, hand to foot play when back-lying, sitting, moving in and out of sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, standing balance, walking, climbing, running, jumping, tricycle riding and stair climbing.

by Catherine Elizabeth Reckord, MS, CCC-SLP, and Jan Turner, PhD, CCC-SLP