Health Care

By Chrissy & Company

Down syndrome is a health complication that is attributed to chromosomal genetic defect. For many children born with Down syndrome, the health complications run the spectrum from neurological to musculoskeletal to intellectual deficit.

While the physical complications of Down syndrome are usually quite evident, the intellectual complications are often not easily determined. For children with Down syndrome, there is also a risk for developing neuropsychological complications, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. As a result, the learning and teaching strategies are often quite varied and tailored to the specific needs of the DS child.

In some children with Down syndrome, especially those with co morbid ADHD, the use of neurofeedback has been shown to be quite effective at improving complications associated with intellectual and cognitive function. With the use of neurofeedback, children with Down syndrome often experience improvement in memory, attention, behavior and may even experience improvement in gait and balance.

If you are the parent of a child who suffers from Down syndrome, it is important to ask your pediatrician about the appropriate referral for testing into ADHD. Once confirmed with ADHD, your child may require additional rehabilitation and therapy using neurofeedback. For children with co-morbidity for Down syndrome and ADHD, neurofeedback has been shown to improve symptoms but often requires as many as 40 sessions before improvement is realized. With diligence, many Down syndrome children, after 40 or more neurofeedback sessions are capable of performing simple mathematical equations and can achieve some level of reading. They may also be able to write their names in a legible manner.

In addition to cognitive and intellectual function, DS children who participate in a series of neurofeedback sessions also find they are more agile, mobile and may even develop the ability to run and skip. In many cases, young children with DS even participate in Special Olympics or physical activity programs designed for children with disability.

Neurofeedback is becoming an important part of treatment for individuals with disabilities. In children with Down syndrome, neurofeedback provides the key opportunity to improve not only physical ability but, more importantly, improve cognitive and intellectual function. With, at least, 40 sessions, you may soon realize your Down syndrome child has improved significantly enough to participate in a greater spectrum of daily living activities, including becoming more involved in school and even occupational events. Ask your child's pediatrician about the use of neurofeedback to improve quality of life when Down syndrome is a health complication.

source:www.associatedcontent.com