Down syndrome : the facts

1. The first days are the hardest
2. Coping with family and friends
3. What is Down syndrome?
4. How Down syndrome comes about
5. Your child's development
6. Your child's health
7. The heart
8. Your child's behaviour
9. A guide to services
10. Assessment
11. Early intervention and pre-school groups
12. Which school?
13. Adolescence
14. Adulthood
15. Controversial treatments
16. Future pregnancies
Appendix. Useful addresses

"Nearly 1 baby in every 1,000 born in the UK has Down syndrome. It is a genetic condition which causes varying degrees of learning disability and other health problems. This new edition of a highly regarded book for parents of children with Down syndrome covers a number of important new developments in research and clinical practice that has occurred in the field in recent years. Updates include information about several conditions that are known to occur more frequently in individuals with Down syndrome, for example, diabetes, neck dislocation, gastrointestinal malformations, 'glue ear', and thyroid disease. This expanded edition also includes new recommendations regarding routine health checks in line with those of the UK Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group (UKDSMIG). Additionally the book covers new prenatal screening methods which have been developed to identify Downs syndrome during pregnancy."--BOOK JACKET.

In the preface the author, a consultant developmental paediatrician, describes this book as being “written for parents who have a child with Down syndrome. It will also be of interest to relatives, friends, teachers, therapists, doctors and others who come in contact with your child. But it is to you, the parent, that it is primarily directed.”
The text of this edition has been updated to include information about new developments in the treatment of individuals with Down syndrome. The chapter on prenatal diagnosis has been revised to include information about screening tests now available.
The first chapter covers the first days after diagnosis and the difficulties new parents face, including quotes from some of these. Further chapters deal with the causes of the syndrome, antenatal diagnosis, development, health, education and behaviour management.
The final chapters look at adolescence, adulthood, controversial treatments and future pregnancies.
Each chapter is prefaced by a Key Points list, the style is clear and accessible, the advice practical, comprehensive and well informed and the tone is positive. Also includes photographs, diagrams, charts and drawings to augment the text.