Promoting Awareness {Myth vs. Truth}
Myth:Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occuring genetic condition. One of every 800 to 1,000 live births is a child with Down syndrome.
Myth:Most children with Ds are born to older parents.
Truth:Eighty percent of children born with Ds are born to women younger than the age of 35 due to the higher fertility rates.
Myth:People with Ds have severe cognitive delays.
Truth:Most people with Ds have cognitive delays that are mild to moderate. IQ is not an adequate measure of the functional status of people with Ds. People with Ds have great potential if given opportunities.
Myth:People with Ds cannot form interpersonal relationships, marry or have children.
Truth:People with Ds date and marry and it is possible for women with Ds to have children. There is a 50 percent chance that the child will have Ds. While extremely rare, men with Ds can father children.
Myth:People with Ds have a short life span.
Truth:Life expectancy for people with Ds has increased dramatically in recent years. Most reach 55 years or older depending upon medical issues.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occuring genetic condition. One of every 800 to 1,000 live births is a child with Down syndrome.
Myth:Most children with Ds are born to older parents.
Truth:Eighty percent of children born with Ds are born to women younger than the age of 35 due to the higher fertility rates.
Myth:People with Ds have severe cognitive delays.
Truth:Most people with Ds have cognitive delays that are mild to moderate. IQ is not an adequate measure of the functional status of people with Ds. People with Ds have great potential if given opportunities.
Myth:People with Ds cannot form interpersonal relationships, marry or have children.
Truth:People with Ds date and marry and it is possible for women with Ds to have children. There is a 50 percent chance that the child will have Ds. While extremely rare, men with Ds can father children.
Myth:People with Ds have a short life span.
Truth:Life expectancy for people with Ds has increased dramatically in recent years. Most reach 55 years or older depending upon medical issues.