Behavior Problems With Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a disease caused by a chromosomal abnormality; instead of two copies of the 21st chromosome, a person with Down syndrome has three. Behaviors associated with Down syndrome are similar to behaviors exhibited by young children.

Types

• Common behaviors associated with Down syndrome include temper tantrums, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, wandering off, extreme stubbornness and the inability to pay attention.

Considerations

• People with Down syndrome are prone to medical conditions that may or may not influence behaviors, including vision problems, hearing problems, depression, thyroid problems, sleep apnea and anxiety.

Effects

• Negative behaviors become a problem when they interfere in social settings like school or family, when they put people in danger or if they inhibit potential personal growth.

Expert Insight

• Physicians evaluate patients with Down syndrome for the aforementioned medical conditions as well as autism, which affects 5 to 7 percent of children born with Down syndrome, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), both of which severely influence behaviors in an academic setting.

Fun Facts

• Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality, affecting one out of 733 babies. There are 400,000 Americans living with Down syndrome.