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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.

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Duration: 7 ms, Number of Results: 63

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Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)

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

Key Points Trichotillomania is a mental health condition in a category called "body-focused repetitive behaviors." It is characterized by frequent, repeated, and irresistible urges t

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Possible Causes of Hair Loss

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

Key Points Hair loss can be caused by many conditions. Alopecia areata and alopecia totalis are autoimmune conditions that are more common in people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down

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Fainting (Syncope)

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

Key Points Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. Fainting may be more common in people with Down syndrome. Fainting may be more common because of differences in body function in people with Down

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6 Ways to Avoid the Winter Blues

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource

Cold weather, less sunlight, post-holiday fatigue. These can all take a toll on our mental health during the winter months. Some people with Down syndrome may be unable to communicate how these factor

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Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors: Promoting Independence or Cause for Concern? Webinar Recording (01/08/2025)

Author: Michele Mattox, LCSW - North Carolina Down Syndrome Virtual Speaker Series

Title:  Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors: Promoting Independence or Cause for Concern?  Date:  January 8, 2025 Presenter:  Michele Mattox, LCSW Host Organization:&

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Finding a Mental Health Professional

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource

How can I find a therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional with experience working with individuals with Down syndrome? Here are a few suggestions.  Contact a Down syndrome

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Hernias

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

Key Points Hernias are defects in the connective tissue of the abdominal wall which allow tissue within the abdominal cavity to protrude. Often hernias do not require treatment. They can be monitored,

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Promoting Mental Health Across the Lifespan in Individuals with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (5/8/2024)

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW and Brian Chicoine, MD - Adult Down Syndrome Center

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Abby Rowley, LCSW, and Brian Chicoine, MD, on May 8, 2024.  Description:  Mental health is a critical component of overall we

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Urinary Incontinence

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

Key Points Urinary incontinence or urinary "accidents" are more common in people with Down syndrome. There are many potential causes.  The inability to empty the bladder com

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Psychotherapy for Individuals with Down Syndrome

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points Some people with Down syndrome benefit from psychotherapy. Therapists work with individuals with a variety of skills, needs, and goals. Psychotherapy is often one part of a treatment plan t

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Behavior Change

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

Any and all behavior change should be viewed as a possible communication tool. For some people with Down syndrome (DS), like some without DS, a behavior change may be a form of communication. This is

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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

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Staff Turnover

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

For people living in a group home or participating in day programs, the staff members often become like family. This is especially true if the person does not have other family involved in his life bu

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Opposite Actions

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

When we experience an emotion, there is often a behavioral urge that comes along with it. When we feel angry, we may have the urge to yell or break things or hurt someone. When we feel sad, we may hav

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Reframing our Thoughts

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Reframing our thoughts is a strategy to change the way we think about a situation, person, or relationship. Sometimes, we can get stuck in thought patterns that negatively impact our mood and behavior

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Calming vs. Coping Strategies

Author: Abby Rowley, LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is the difference between calming and coping strategies? Many times, we use the terms "calming" and "coping" interchangeably. There is often overlap in the str

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Resources on Healthy Ways to Manage Stress and Strong Emotions

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource List

Learning how to manage our stress and strong emotions in healthy ways is a lifelong process. We have compiled a list of resources below that may help people with and without Down syndrome who

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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

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Fear of Heights

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD and Abby Rowley, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

We have seen people with Down syndrome with a variety of phobias. Concern about heights is one we see more commonly. For this fear in particular, we often ask if it is indeed a phobia or if it is caus

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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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