Investigating the Language Development of Individuals With Down Syndrome, and Highlighting the Importance of Speech Therapy

Down syndrome is the most common viable numerical chromosomal abnormality, affecting one in every 600 births. It is the most common cause of intellectual disability due to genetic factors. Nearly all individuals with this syndrome have an extra copy of the 21st, leading to cognitive and physical disabilities. Down syndrome can be detected through prenatal screening and is classified into three categories: trisomy 21, mosaicism, and translocation. The main aim of this study is to investigate the linguistic characteristics of people with Down syndrome and demonstrate the value of speech therapy. Statistical analysis shows that the linguistic development of individuals with Down syndrome differs in every subsection from normal development. There are deficiencies not only in their linguistic development (i.e., phonology, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics) but also in many cognitive categories (e.g., memory). Furthermore, this study confirmed the value of speech therapy through personalized intervention. However, we found that the speech therapists who participated in this survey did not have the appropriate expertise. Their knowledge of Down syndrome was good, but they needed a deeper understanding of the syndrome. Article visualizations: