Navigating the Path to Wellness: A Guide to Down Syndrome Care With Your Pediatrician

If your child has Down syndrome, it’s only natural to be unsure of what your child needs. Your pediatrician can help you and your child navigate the path to wellness. Drs. Brian DuMais, Megan Dwyer, and Liz Dahlberg at DuMais Pediatrics in Orland Park, IL, offer comprehensive children’s medical services, including Down syndrome care.

What You Need to Know about Down Syndrome Care

You, as a parent of a child with Down syndrome, can benefit from a strong support system, and that includes your pediatrician. Regular visits with the pediatrician are important for all children, including children with Down syndrome. In addition to assessing overall health, the pediatrician will administer recommended and required vaccinations your child needs.

Children with Down syndrome often are more susceptible to various medical issues. These are some general guidelines of additional testing your pediatrician may recommend for your child:

• Hearing testing every 2 years, because hearing problems occur in 75% of Down syndrome cases
• Vision testing every 2 years, because vision problems occur in 60-80% of Down syndrome cases
• Autism screening, because autism occurs in 7-19% of Down syndrome cases
• Thyroid function testing every year, because thyroid disease develops in 50% of Down syndrome cases by adulthood
• Cardiology examinations, because congenital heart disease occurs in 40-50% of Down syndrome cases
• Neurological examinations, because seizures occur in up to 13% of cases

Down syndrome children often also have:

• Speech and language difficulties and may need therapy
• Feeding difficulties, and may need help with motor skills
• Skin conditions, and may need dermatology services
• Gastrointestinal problems, and may need gastroenterology services
• Dental issues, and may need dental services
• Respiratory issues, and may need pulmonology services

To read more detailed information about Down syndrome care, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, please click here. 

Want to Know More about Down Syndrome Care?

To find out more about Down syndrome care with your pediatrician, call Drs. Brian DuMais, Megan Dwyer, and Liz Dahlberg at DuMais Pediatrics in Orland Park, IL. You can reach them in the office by calling (708) 364-1600, so call today.