Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality caused by an additional (third) chromosome 21 or “trisomy 21.” Down syndrome is associated with mental retardation, a characteristic facial appearance, and poor muscle tone (hypotonia).
This occurs in approximately 1 in every 900 births. Down syndrome is not inherited; it does not “run in families.”
John Langdon Down, while working as the superintendent of the Earlswood Asylum for mentaly retarded, published the first clinical description of the syndrome around 140 years ago.
Some people with Down’s syndrome experience very few health problems as a result of their condition. However, others can be more severely affected and require extra medical care and attention.
Hearing problems
Approximately 50% of people with Down’s syndrome experience problems with their ears – hearing, more of a conductive hearing loss because of the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear.
Glue ear is a common condition for people with Down’s syndrome. It is caused by a build up of fluid in the middle ear. In some cases, the fluid thickens, making sounds appear muffled and distorted.
If your child cannot hear clearly, this may mean they find it more difficult to learn, or to interact with other children.
The reason for having glue ear is because these children have narrow and short Eustachian tube.
The external auditory canal makes any surgical procedure difficult.
The treatment is myringotomy, aspiration of glue (thick secretion) with or with out grommet insertion.
Some advocates not putting grommet as the side effects of keeping the grommet in situ.
Adenoid if enlarged can be removed same time.
The grommet is left in situ until it extrudes by itself. Avoid water getting in the ear while bathing and swimming.
Dr Paulose is an ENT Consultant Plastic and Laser Surgeon with over 32 years of experience covering in Ear, Nose and Throat procedures, specializing in Laser Surgery and conventional medicine across India, U.K. and Middle East. He is currently engaged with the SUT Hospital, in Kerala, India. You can contact him today for help.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m from the united states and was wondering if people with downs in the countries you practice in get their ears pierced? I was wondering because I have it and I have a CHD (congenital heart problem). I’ve had it since birth and had my ears pierced 19 years ago in 1991.
I’ve also been under anastesais a number of different problems to fix a priloric stenosis when I was 5 in 1989 and open heart in 1991 when I was 7 on top of shunts put in at 6 months and 3 years old. I was wondering this because I want to get it redone and my parents are telling me its not a good idea because of the risk of infection and I had a incident when I was 7 and had it done and wound up with my left ear getting infected. It was one ear and the other one was fine and I had to take medicine to clear it up. I take medicine when I have to get my teeth cleaned and for other medical procedures but other wise my hearts fine and I don’t take medicine on a regular basis to control my heart problem, its monitored yearly. So that’s the reason I was wondering about that. Thanks for your time
Jessica,
Make sure you don’t end up getting any infection.Get it done with laser, if anyone do it there.