Understanding Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material affects a child’s physical and developmental growth. Children with Down syndrome often face challenges with learning, mobility, muscle tone, and speech, but with the proper support, they can achieve amazing things.
At South West Kids Clinic, we believe in recognising each child’s potential, addressing their specific needs, and promoting a nurturing and inclusive environment where they can thrive, reach their goals, and lead fulfilling lives.
Parenting a child with Down syndrome is a journey filled with love, joy, and unique experiences. It may also involve some additional challenges and adjustments. Our dedicated team is here to provide a comprehensive approach to therapy that enhances development, promotes independence, and improves quality of life.
Our comprehensive and caring therapy
- Fine motor skills such as learning to hold and play with toys
- Developmental milestones
- Pre-academic tasks such as learning to hold a pencil, draw and cut with scissors
- Self-care skills such as dressing, grooming, toileting
- Muscle strength and joint integrity
- Facilitate age-appropriate play skills
- Development of problem-solving, memory and attention
- Learning optimal early movement patterns
- Mobility and gait training
- Muscle strength and endurance
- Balance and coordination
- Postural control
- Pain management
- Facilitation of exercise and physical activity
- Early babbling development
- Receptive (understanding) language
- Expressive (use of) language
- Articulation of speech sounds
- Fluency (stuttering) management
- Feeding difficulties and dysphagia
- Social Skills
- Meeting nutritional requirements for age
- Meeting nutritional requirements with modifications as required
- Dietary requirements for bowel health
- Comprehensive assessment of developmental and motor skills
- Goal-directed training
- Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP Approach)
- Community assessments and intervention to assist with transitions into school
- Assistive technology prescription, monitoring & support
- Parent/caregiver coaching & support
- Task adaptation or simplification
- Graded task progression
- Liaison with specialist team and critical support persons
- Functional, goal-directed therapy
- Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) intensive therapy
- Spider cage therapy
- Pediasuit
- Orthotic prescription, monitoring & support
- Aquatic physiotherapy
- Family and caregiver coaching
- Comprehensive assessment of speech, language and feeding skills
- Comprehensive Assessment of language and literacy skills
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication prescription, monitoring and support - such as Key Word Sign.
- Alternative access for AAC, including switch access, eye gaze and partner-assisted scanning
- Peer-based playgroups
- The Lidcombe Program for stuttering
- The Oakville Program for stuttering
- Play-based language stimulation
- Babbling Bootcamp
- Parent/caregiver coaching & support
- Comprehensive assessment of current nutritional status
- Nutrition support through food modification
- Nutrition support through supplements
- Enteral feeding support as needed
- Feeding therapy