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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.
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Night terrors (or sleep terrors) are described as a sudden arousal from sleep associated with sitting up in bed, intense fear, and a piercing scream. Symptoms include increased heart rate, increased r
The use of weighted blankets is a sensory technique that provides deep pressure stimulation. Evidence suggests that deep pressure stimulation produces a calming effect to the autonomic nervous system
We received a question about a man with Down syndrome in his late 30s. His family shared that he developed catatonia, was hearing people speaking in his head, and lost a significant amount of weight.
The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L on March 28, 2021 as part of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress 37th Annual Virtual Confer
As with all vaccines, there is the potential to experience side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. This is true for people with and without Down syndrome. These side effects may include pain
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, my first thoughts of concern for our patients and all people with Down syndrome were around the virus and the potential of becoming severely ill with COVID-19. We h
The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L on November 10, 2020. Dr. Chicoine is the co-founder and medical director of the Adult Down Synd
In September 2017, we started filming a video journal with Colleen, a woman with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, and Bo, Colleen's sister and caregiver. Colleen was diagnosed wi
The Sensory System No one has a perfectly functioning sensory system. We all have sensory preferences and even sensory needs, each unique to how our central nervous system perceives and processes sens
We frequently receive questions about sleep. Individuals with Down syndrome and/or their families report that they have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. In this article, we will share stra
The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L on August 4, 2020. Dr. Chicoine is the co-founder and medical director of the Adult Down Syndrom
UPDATED JUNE 2020 : On June 9, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it had reached a resolution on the first federal com
*Please note: this article discusses viral testing used to diagnose if an individual currently has COVID-19. This article does not discuss antibody testing used to determine if an individual was expos
The National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) developed a screening tool called the NTG - Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD). The NTG-EDSD&
Reports of potential discrimination in medical treatment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have caused fear, anxiety, and anger within the Down syndrome community. Depar
This booklet about dementia for families and carers was developed by Down's Syndrome Scotland. It was designed to help in the care and support of a person with Down syndrome and dementia. &
This article describes a form of proprioceptive input called lower body joint compression which may be helpful for individuals with sensory challenges.
In this handout, our occupational therapist provides recommendations for affordable sensory equipment .
An orientation book can be used for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to help them remember things about their daily life.
This article describes a form of proprioceptive input called upper body joint compression which may be helpful for individuals with sensory challenges.
This two-page resource provides ideas for staying connected to someone who is experiencing memory loss.
We received a question from an individual in Switzerland about preventing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when air is not passed normally in and out of the lungs while sleeping. There are three types
We were sent a question about seizures in a person with Down syndrome who developed Alzheimer’s disease. The individual continued to experience seizures despite being treated with l
Is colon cancer screening recommended for people with Down syndrome? Please note that this handout discusses screening colonoscopies (i.e. colonoscopies performed to identify pre-symptomatic or unreco
Please note: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for a medical, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan by a qualified professional. We recommend you review the educational material with your health providers regarding the specifics of your health care needs.
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