Language development in

children

with Down Syndrome

 01 02 03
Characteristics of children with Stages of language development for DS
Language challenges
Down Syndrome child

04 05
Factors that contribute to language
development
Conclusions
 About Down Syndrome

Genetics Brain Physical features

Some common physical features of Down

It is caused by an extra The extra chromosome disorder syndrome include:
chromosome. results insignificant abnormalities a flattened face, especially the bridge of
in the structure and functioning of the nose
the brain. almond-shaped eyes that slant up, a short
neck etc
 Stages of speech development

Birth to five years of age is a critical period for language development for all children. Each child progresses at his or her
own rate, and each presents with his or her own strengths or weaknesses. The same applies to children with Down
syndrome.

AGE Typical developing child Children with DS

Birth-5 months Consistently reacts to sounds Occasionally reacts to sounds

5-10 months

10-15 months
 Language challenges for children with Down Syndrome

Pragmatic (Conversational
Phonological errors Grammar & Syntax skills):

Syntax comprehension may be

Children with down syndrome start
characterized by slower growth or
Consonants can be hard to produce. conversations less often, and they
decline in late adolescence and
are less descriptive. 
early adulthood .

Simple responses are expected, and

Final consonant deletion . Cup –ka They produce shorter and less
they are not very likely to ask for
instead of kap complex utterances
clarification

Cluster reduction Active and passive voice

Make more errors than a normal Direct/indirect object,modals,

child. prepositions
 Factors that contribute to language development

● 1.Hearing loss

Two-thirds of children with Down syndrome

experience hearing loss, which can range
from mild to profound and affect one or
both ears.

Many children with Down syndrome experience

hearing loss in the early years and this has
been shown to influence their spoken
language development
 Factors that contribute to language development

● 2.Storing spoken word patterns 

Studies suggest that children with Down

syndrome may have more difficulty in
learning and storing accurate sound patterns
for words.
This may influence their ability to discriminate
between, and learn the meaning of, similar
sounding words.
It may also influence their ability to say the
words accurately.
 Factors that contribute to language development

● 3.Cognitive delay 

Children with Down syndrome generally

develop and learn more slowly than
typically developing children.
They may find it more difficult to pick up word
meanings from everyday conversations, and
may need more exposure to words in order
to link word to meaning.
All children learn their first words from hearing
them stressed as single words - not just in
sentences.
 Factors that contribute to language development

● 4.Less input 

There is some evidence that children with Down

syndrome experience less conversation with
their parents than other children.
If they are not attempting sounds and words as
often as other children, they may be talked
to less often.
If they are talked to less often, the children have
fewer opportunities to learn words and to
practice saying them.
 Factors that contribute to language development

● 4.Less input 

There is some evidence that children with Down

syndrome experience less conversation with
their parents than other children.
If they are not attempting sounds and words as
often as other children, they may be talked
to less often.
If they are talked to less often, the children have
fewer opportunities to learn words and to
practice saying them.
 Risk factors

Jupiter - 20% Venus - 25%

Jupiter is the biggest Venus is the second planet
planet of them all from the Sun

Mars - 45% Earth - 10%

Despite being red, Mars is Earth is the third planet
actually a cold place from the Sun

Follow the link in the graph to modify its data and then paste the new one here. For more info, click here
 Key numbers

±1 Years
When a child starts developing disorders

1960
Elijah Corlett founded the first speech therapy
+89
Speech and language disorders
“This is a quote, words full of
wisdom that someone important
said and can make the reader get
inspired.”

—Someone Famous
 Prevention

Saturn is a gas giant and has

several rings
Screening

Neptune is the farthest

Performance planet from the Sun

The Sun is the star at the

center of the Solar System
Phonology

Pluto is now considered a

Prosody-voice dwarf planet
 Treatment

Step #01 Step #02 Step #03 Step #04

Venus is the second Earth is the beautiful Despite being red, Jupiter is the biggest
planet from the Sun planet where we all Mars is actually a planet of them all
live cold place
Prevalence

Severe
Ceres is located in the main
asteroid belt

Mild
Mercury is the smallest planet
of them all
 Recommendations

What the patient shouldn’t

do:
● Mercury is small
● Venus has a beautiful name
● Earth is where we live
What the patient should
do:
● Mars is actually a cold place
● Jupiter is a gas giant
● Saturn has several rings
 Conclusions
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 Our team

Laura Sue Nick Yarris

You can speak a bit You can speak a bit
about your team about your team
member here member here

Belen Sai Argos Fu

You can speak a bit You can speak a bit
about your team about your team
member here member here
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