But the child with Down syndrome may exhibit these traits more often than other children his age. It may, but more often it means that a medical problem needs to be addressed, or that your child's educational program or communication method needs some adjustment. In children with Down syndrome who have difficulty paying attention, ADHD is a diagnosis of exclusion. What follows is a discussion of these problems. Both hearing and visual problems are common in children with Down syndrome.
Ear infections are overwhelmingly common, and, even if treated, can cause hearing loss for weeks.
Hearing screens should be performed annually until three years of age, and every other year thereafter. Children with abnormal hearing evaluations should be seen by an ENT physician to manage treatable causes of hearing loss. An underactive thyroid gland can, among other things, make a child very tired and apathetic. Sleep disorders are common in Down syndrome. And people of all ages have difficulty focusing and learning new information when they are sleep deprived.