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Health Risks

Adolescents with Down syndrome face some of the same health risks as their non-disabled peers, including motor vehicle accidents, smoking, physical or sexual abuse, and drug or alcohol-related problems.

Teens with Down syndrome also have a higher risk than their peers for certain disorders, including:

Auditory impairments
Visual impairments
Orthopedic abnormalities, especially atlantoaxial instability
Acquired valvular disease
Respiratory infections
Thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autistic disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD)
Depression
Abuse (physical or sexual)
Sleep apnea
Testicular cancer
Dental disease

INSTANT FEEDBACK:
While adolescents with Down syndrome share many health risks with the population at large, certain diseases and disorders are more prevalent in those teens with Down syndrome.

Len Leshin, MD is a pediatrician who specializes in the care of children with Down syndrome (and also the father of a child with Down syndrome). Click here to visit his comprehensive site, emphasizing the health issues of individuals with Down syndrome.