Adult Down Syndrome Center

Join us on Thursday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. CST for our final webinar of 2024! Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center, will share practical strategies and tips for supporting individuals with Down syndrome in managing personal hygiene tasks such as toileting, bathing/showering, brushing teeth, caring for skin and nails, and more! Resources will be shared. This webinar is intended for families and caregivers. There is no registration fee. Can't attend? Register to receive a link to the recording after the webinar. The link will be emailed within 1 week.
Register here ➡ https://aah-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CxP_T4JbRFi8FtaKDw8YWg

Many physical or mental health problems can cause a person with Down syndrome to stop eating. For example, a person who has a peptic ulcer (an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum) may feel pain when eating and thus stop eating. After treating the ulcer, the person may not start eating right away. They need to "re-learn" that it is safe to eat and that they will not feel pain when they eat. Additional information is available in the article linked here ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/eating-refusal/

Using phones and social media safely and effectively require skills that people with and without Down syndrome need to learn, practice, and often relearn as technology changes. Some of the topics we discuss in our social skills groups for individuals with Down syndrome include:
▪️ appropriate times of day to call or text someone,
▪️ waiting for a response after calling or texting someone (instead of sending multiple messages),
▪️ who to interact with online,
▪️ appropriate and inappropriate content to share on social media,
▪️ and more!
The handouts and visuals we use during our groups are available in our Resource Library. See the link below!
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/phone-social-internet-safety/

People with Down syndrome are more likely to have ear wax buildup. This is likely due to smaller and more curved ear canals, which make it difficult for the body's natural processes to remove ear wax. While there are at-home treatment options, medical office procedures are often required to remove the wax. It is important to speak with a health care provider before trying at-home ear wax treatments, especially if there is a hole (perforation) or tube in the eardrum. Learn more in this article by Brian Chicoine, MD ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/cerumen-impaction-ear-wax/

We often talk about the importance of getting good sleep 😴. When we do not get good sleep, our physical and mental health can suffer. In the article linked below, Brian Chicoine, MD, and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, describe factors that may contribute to sleep difficulties in people with Down syndrome and share strategies for improving sleep. The article includes links to several visuals that can be used to promote good sleep.
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/addressing-challenges-with-falling-or-staying-asleep/

Seizures are more common in all people (with and without Down syndrome) who develop Alzheimer’s disease. However, the incidence of seizures as a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is greater in people with Down syndrome than in people without Down syndrome. For people without Down syndrome, the seizures more commonly occur later in the course of Alzheimer's disease. Brian Chicoine, MD, shares more information on seizures in people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease in the article linked below.
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/seizures-in-people-with-down-syndrome-and-alzheimers-disease/

Many individuals with Down syndrome and their families have shared with us that they often write or copy letters, words, and sentences repetitiously. Some examples we have heard include writing the names of favorite superheroes, writing lines from movies, copying sentences from books, and writing various letters that do not form words. In the article linked below, Brian Chicoine, MD, explains how this routine can be beneficial and discusses when it may be an indication of a problem or stressor in the life of an individual with Down syndrome.
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/routines-involving-writing-or-copying/

What was your first job? What skills did you need to learn to be successful at your job? Social skills might not have come to mind first but they are incredibly important for getting and keeping a job. Our Resource Library has a recording of a webinar called "Mastering Social Skills for Success in the Workplace" presented by Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW. They share practical strategies and resources to help people with Down syndrome develop social skills that impact job performance. The recording and slides are available at this link ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/workplace-social-skills-webinar-2024/

Today's resource spotlight is a visual on relationships. Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center, developed it based on the information she shares in the dating skills groups she facilitates for individuals with Down syndrome. The visual explains what relationships are, describes differences between relationships that are romantic vs. not romantic, and discusses what it means to be in a romantic relationship. The visual also includes a reminder that it is ok not to have a boyfriend/girlfriend/romantic partner. It is available at the link below!
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/relationships-visual/

A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that can provide information for monitoring or diagnosing health conditions. Red blood cell count is one of the measures in a CBC. Having an abnormally high red blood cell count is called polycythemia. In adults with Down syndrome, polycythemia can be caused by dehydration, sleep apnea, and congenital heart disease, among others. Brian Chicoine, MD, shares more information in this article ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/polycythemia/

Trimming or cutting fingernails or toenails can be difficult for people with Down syndrome for a number of reasons such as poor fine motor skills and sensory challenges. There are ways to make this personal hygiene task easier to complete as well as adaptive products that can be used to increase independence with nail care. Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, occupational therapist, shares tips in the article from our Resource Library linked here ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/tips-for-cutting-your-nails/

We are excited to share our newest resource! Our online library now has an article on compression socks for people with Down syndrome. Sarah Mann, PT, DPT, MBA, NSCA-CPT, from Mann Method PT and Fitness, PLLC, and Brian Chicoine, MD, from the Adult Down Syndrome Center, teamed up to write the article. Check it out at the link below!
🔗 https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/compression-socks-for-people-with-down-syndrome/

About 40% of the adolescents and adults with Down syndrome we have seen at our clinic have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). People with Down syndrome can develop hypothyroidism at any time of life. Many of the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism (such as dry skin, constipation, and lower heart rate) are common in people with Down syndrome even when they do not have hypothyroidism so regular thyroid testing is recommended. Screening for hypothyroidism is done with a blood test. Learn more in an article on hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism by Brian Chicoine, MD ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/hypothyroidism/

While many of our resources are intended for people with Down syndrome, we can all benefit from the reminders they provide. Today, we are spotlighting a visual called Things I Can and Cannot Control/Change. We can improve our mood and overall mental health by letting go of those things that we cannot control such as other people's emotions and actions, things that happened in the past, weather, and traffic and focusing on the things we can control. Often times, this is easier said than done! Hopefully, this visual will be a helpful reminder. A free printable version is available here ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/things-i-can-and-cannot-control-visual/

Did you miss our recent Healthy Aging in Adults with Down Syndrome webinar? The recording is available for free in our Resource Library! Brian Chicoine, MD, and Hannah Graham, MD, physicians at the Adult Down Syndrome Center discussed strategies for supporting adults with Down syndrome in promoting their health as they age as well as strategies for addressing challenges associated with aging. They also shared many resources. The recording and slides are available here ➡ https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com/resources/healthy-aging-in-adults-with-ds-webinar-10242024/