A speech therapist has opined that babies born by women who are over 35 years are exposed to down syndrome.
The therapist identified as Maryam Ibrahim-Maifada told newsmen on Friday.
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Ibrahim-Maifada said, “The older the mother, the higher the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome.”
“Down syndrome is a genetic disorder. Most babies are born with 23 pairs of chromosomes within each cell for a total of 46. Majority of babies with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome,’’ she said.
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Ibrahim Maifada stated that babies born with Down Syndrome experienced physical and mental challenges for a lifetime.
“They typically have distinctive body and facial features that set them apart. They are more likely to develop slowly, and are more at risk of some medical conditions,” she said.
She listed some of the medical conditions influenced by down syndrome. They are:
· Speech and Language development.
· Attention problems.
· Sleep difficulties.
· Stubbornness and tantrums.
· Delays in recognition.
· Delayed toilet training.
The physical symptoms she listed includes:
· Short and stocky physical size.
· A short neck.
· Poor muscle tone.
· Flattened facial features.
· The bridge of the nose.
· Small ears.
· Almond-shaped eyes that slants upwards.
· Small hands and feet
· Single deep crease across the center of the palm.
She listed some other internal organ symptoms associated with Down syndrome. They are:
· Heart problems.
· Thyroid abnormalities.
· Auditory and vision problems.
· Low fertility rates for males.
“About 50 per cent of women with Down syndrome are able to bear children. The possibility of risk of their children having the condition is between 35 per cent and 50 per cent,’’ Ibrahim-Maifada.
Source: The Nation
