Resources | Adult Down Syndrome Center

Connective Tissue and Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points Connective tissue is the tissue that helps hold our bodies together. Connective tissue is different in people with Down syndrome compared to others. People with Down syndrome have

Tremors in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points Tremors are repetitive involuntary movements. Tremors can be mild and cause limited disruption or more severe and restricting. There are many causes for tremors. An evaluation by a health p

Temperature Regulation in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points How the body manages (regulates) body temperature is different in people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down syndrome. The difference in body temperature regulation

Pain in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points People with Down syndrome experience pain but some individuals report it less often than people without Down syndrome. There are a variety of reasons why people with Down syndrome may repor

Changes in Gait (Ambulation, Walking)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points A change in gait (walking) is a change seen in many people with Down syndrome. There are many possible causes for those changes. Family or other observers can play a critical role in assess

How to Plan a Date

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

There are many things to think about when planning a date such as who you will ask, when and where you will go, how much it will cost, and how you will get to and from the date. The handouts below can

Chronic Cough in Adults with Down Syndrome

Author: Ravi Shah, MD and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Key Points Chronic cough is a cough that lasts more than eight weeks (four weeks in a child). There are many reasons for a chronic cough. Three common causes in people with Down syndrome (DS) include

Story About Getting My Period

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

This visual explains what happens when a woman gets her period.

Story About How to Change My Tampon

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

This visual explains how to change a tampon when a woman has her period.

Story About When to Change My Menstrual Hygiene Product

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

This visual explains that women need to change their pad, tampon, or period panties throughout the day when they have their period.

Story About How to Change My Period Panties

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

This visual explains how to change period panties when a woman has her period.

Story About How to Change My Pad

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

This visual explains how to change a pad when a woman has her period.

Personal Hygiene Chart

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

The Personal Hygiene Chart linked below can help us keep track of when we complete hygiene tasks such as taking a shower, brushing our teeth, and caring for our nails. Not all hygien

Eating Refusal

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We received the following question: I have a son with Down syndrome. He had testicular cancer in his late 20s. Since then, he seems to have developed an eating disorder. He always feels he i

Perspectives on Pain in Down Syndrome

Author: Shaikh et al. - Medicinal Research Reviews (2023)

Abstract Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 is a genetic condition often accompanied by chronic pain caused by congenital abnormalities and/or conditions, such as osteoarthritis, recurrent infections, a

Behavior Changes in Individuals with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (2/23/2023)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW, on February 23, 2023. In this webinar, the presenters define, iden

Acrocyanosis

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is acrocyanosis? Acrocyanosis is the bluish discoloration of the extremities (usually the hands and/or feet) due to decreased oxygen being delivered to those areas. The small blood vessels in the

Supporting Healthy Sexuality for Individuals with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (11/16/2022)

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

This is a recording of a webinar presented by Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L of the Adult Down Syndrome Center in Park Ridge, IL. We know that having healthy relationships benefits the physical, mental, and

Planet Puberty

Author: Family Planning NSW - Digital Resource (Australia)

Planet Puberty is a resource designed to guide parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities through their child's puberty journey. Topics include the body, feeling good, relationships

Supporting Healthy Sexuality for Your Loved One with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (6/15/2022)

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - North Carolina Down Syndrome Virtual Speaker Series

On June 15, 2022, the North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance hosted a webinar called "Supporting Healthy Sexuality for Your Loved One with Down Syndrome" presented by Katie Frank, PhD