Children with Down syndrome Down syndrome affects many people in this world. It not only affects the person diagnosed with Down's, but it also affects their family and everyone around them. There are physical characteristics that help you identify someone with Down's. There are also some health issues you need to worry about. In this essay I will give you a clearer understanding of what Down syndrome is and what it means to have it. Down syndrome can be caused by three different reasons. The most common cause is called trisomy 21. This means that instead of having 46 chromosomes you have 47. This is the cause of about 95% of people with Down syndrome. The extra chromosome is usually found on the twenty-first pair. The subsequent cause affects only 1% of the Down's population. It is known as mosaicism. This is caused by an error during cell division shortly after conception. It has been seen that in mosaicism some cells have 47 chromosomes while other cells have only 46 chromosomes. The last reason can be traced back to that of the parents. It is known as translocation. The twenty-first chromosome is translocated to another chromosome. The parents may be carriers of the translocating chromosome. This form of Down syndrome affects only 3-4% of people living with Down syndrome. There are some health issues you should be aware of when dealing with someone with Down syndrome. Sixty to eighty percent of people with Down syndrome have been found to have a hearing impairment. If you were dealing with a young child with Down syndrome, it would be a good idea to have their hearing checked. It is also common to have a congenital heart disease...... middle of paper ......which plays an important role in the child's development and these meetings show parents how they can be more involved and help with their child's learning . This will continue throughout their lives. When they become adults they will have the so-called Individual Service Plan (ISP). This happens once a month. The adult with Down syndrome sets their goals, sees what goals they have achieved, and decides where they want to go from there. As you can see, a person with Down syndrome may require more time and energy, but in my experience I have found it to be worth the time and energy. They are very loving people who deserve a chance at life just like everyone else. Just remember that they have to work twice as hard to get half your progress in life. So maybe there is something we can learn from them, like how to appreciate the little things, while still doing our best in life.