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Symptoms of Down's syndrome

People with Down’s Syndrome have lots of different characteristics.

There are thought to be up to 120 features of Down’s Syndrome but many children have no more than six or seven of them.

Physical features:

  • Babies with Down’s Syndrome usually weigh less than average at birth and are usually shorter than average as adults.
  • Children with Down’s Syndrome often have a rounded face, with a flat profile (the face looks flat when you view it from the side). The back of the head is slightly flattened (this is called brachycephaly) and the eyes tend to slant upwards.
  • There are small folds of skin that run vertically between the inner corner of the eye and the bridge of the nose (peicanthic folds) and this can give the impression of crossed eyes (squint). There may be white or yellow speckling around the rim of the iris (coloured part of the eye). These are called Brushfield spots.
  • Children with Down’s Syndrome often have straight, soft hair. As children they may have an extra fold of skin over the back of the neck and as adults, short broad necks.
  • People with Down’s Syndrome often have smaller than average mouths with a bigger than average tongue that may stick out. 
  • The hands may be broad with short fingers; the little finger may only have one joint instead of two and be slightly curved. The feet are often stubby with a wide space between the first and second toes.
  • Many people with Down’s Syndrome have poor muscle tone (hypotonia). This muscular floppiness occurs in the limbs and neck and usually improves with age.

Children with Down’s Syndrome learn new skills more slowly than other children and generally develop at a slower rate, meeting their ‘developmental milestones’ such as walking or talking later. They may progress in stops and starts and may not fully catch up with other children their age. Often, a child with Down’s Syndrome will not start to use language until his or her third year and may use some sign language before talking. 

With treatment and support, the average life expectancy of someone with Down’s Syndrome is about 60 years.