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

Duration: 8 ms, Number of Results: 63

Showing 25 - 48 of 63

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

Steps to Accessing Adult Services and Supports

Author: Ann Garcia - Patient Advocate, Adult Down Syndrome Center

While special education services are an entitlement, adult services are based on eligibility and availability of funding. In the adult developmental disabilities system, Medicaid is the primary paymen

Alternatives to Guardianship

Author: Ann Garcia - Patient Advocate

Families trying to decide what level of support would work best for their adult family member with Down syndrome may want to look at options besides guardianship . Individuals with Down syndrome and t

Guardianship

Author: Ann Garcia - Patient Advocate

Whether you decide to obtain guardianship for your child is an individual family decision that should be considered carefully. If your child is 18 years old and is unable to make decisions about finan

Contingency Maps

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

Contingency maps can help an individual visualize their behavioral choices and the outcomes/consequences of their behaviors. They can help make the problem-solving process more concrete. The individua

Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)

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

The handouts linked below were developed to teach individuals with Down syndrome how to think more positively. If an individual has an automatic negative thought (or ANT), they can squish it or brush

How to Cope with Stress

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

Coping with stress is an important and necessary part of life. There are some strategies that can help us manage our reactions to different life stressors. The steps below are strategies that I use wi

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

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD, and Dennis McGuire, PhD, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

*This article was adapted from  Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges, 2nd Edition . What is attention-deficit/hyperactivi

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

Obsessional Slowness

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

What is obsessional slowness? Obsessional slowness is an apparent form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that appears to be more common in people with Down syndrome. At this point, much more needs to b

Mental Health at the Holidays for People with Down Syndrome and Their Families Webinar (11/30/2022)

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

Abby Rowley, LCSW, presented a webinar called "Mental Health at the Holidays for People with Down Syndrome and Their Families" on November 30, 2022. The webinar was hosted by&nbs

Electroconvulsive Therapy, Catatonia, and Regression in People with Down Syndrome

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

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that involves sedating an individual with anesthesia and then inducing a seizure with a short electrical stimulation of the brain. ECT can be frightening

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition in which an individual develops psychological symptoms in response to an extremely distressing experience. The symptoms can vary and

Impact of Physical Health Conditions on Mental Health

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

Every thorough mental health assessment should include an assessment of physical health to ensure that physical health problems are not affecting mental well-being in any way. This is true whether or

Warning Signs a Person with Down Syndrome is Getting Overheated

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

Exercise is important for people with Down syndrome just as it is for all people. For all people, care must be taken to avoid overdoing it with exercise. Excessive sweating can be a sign to ease back,

Stereotypies: Repetitive Movements or Sounds

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - "Ask Dr. Chicoine" LuMind IDSC Foundation

A parent of an individual with Down syndrome asked a question about stereotypies and self-stimulatory behavior. The parent shared that the individual made noises while watching videos on their iPad an

Managing Anxiety During Storms

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource

We received a question from a family member of an individual with Down syndrome who is anxious and fearful of bad weather, particularly thunderstorms. Thunder, lightning, strong winds, heavy rain, hai

Weaning Off Psychotropic Medications

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

A common and appropriate question is: Can a person be weaned off a psychotropic medication? A psychotropic medication is a medication prescribed to treat a psychological problem such as depression or

Unexplained Weight Loss

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

What can cause unexplained weight loss? We were sent a question about unexplained weight loss. We are sharing some information here for general knowledge and/or information that can be used in consult

Selective Mutism and Other Causes of Loss of Speech in People with Down Syndrome

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

We were sent a question about selective mutism and loss of speech. Selective mutism is defined as an anxiety condition in which a person with normal verbal skills is unable to speak in particular sett

Promoting Mental Health in Adolescents & Adults with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (9/28/2021)

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

The video below is a recording of a webinar called "Promoting Mental Health in Adolescents & Adults with Down Syndrome" presented by Brian Chicoine, MD on September 28, 2021.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder in People with Down Syndrome

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

Nearly all of us have experienced anxiety during our lives. We may feel anxious about a school exam, a new job, a dentist appointment, a disagreement with a friend, or other similar situations. This i

Depression in People with Down Syndrome

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

Depression is a mental health condition that is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and/or a decreased interest in things that an individual previously enjoyed. Depression is more common i

Showing 25 - 48 of 63
 

 

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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