These characteristics include eyes that slant upwards and outwards, the tongue may appear too large for the mouth cavity, a lower birth weight and put on weight at a slower pace, the back of the head may be flatter and a single crease which runs across the palm of the hand and reduced muscle tone. The Down's Syndrome Association stresses that these features can appear in people who do not have the condition, and not all of these characteristics will appear in people with the condition. There are certain medical conditions, which are common in people with the Down's such as heart defects, hearing problems and thyroid disease. Living with Down's There are various educational programmes and therapy, which help in the development of children with Down's such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Babies born with the condition can learn to do everything other babies do, it will just take more time.
Help is available from day one - for baby, parents and carers.
Hospital midwives, social workers and health visitors can provide guidance and support. The Down's Syndrome Association offers help and support to families and carers of people with Down's syndrome and the professionals that work with them. The Association produces information on all aspects of the condition, in English, Arabic, Welsh, Chinese, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujerati, Bengali and Spanish. The Association also works hard to challenge and educate public opinion on Down's. The BBC is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.