Down syndrome is a genetic condition that often comes with health challenges due to physical difficulties and intellectual and developmental delays.

With 1 in 1100 babies born in Australia being born with Down syndrome it is essential to ensure high-quality, targeted health services are easily available. 

With adequate support, many with down syndrome live happy, healthy, and independent lives.

At AAH Group we’re passionate about ensuring everyone has access to the highest quality care possible. 

That’s why our team of occupational therapists, podiatrists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and dietitians is focused on your individual needs. We tailor our care very specifically to you, aiming to help you reach your goals, build your independence, and enjoy your life.

Our greatest joy is seeing our clients succeed in their environment. We love supporting them to enjoy school, thrive at work, and actively participate in family and community.

Here we explain how the AAH Group helps clients with Down syndrome.

 

How can AAH Group help with conditions such as Down syndrome?

For those born with Down syndrome certain health conditions may be all too familiar. 

They may experience hypothyroidism, heart defects, low muscle tone, difficulty with joints and bones, flat feet, obesity, and certain gut issues, among other things. 

Many of these health conditions can be managed with dietary guidance, weight management, assistive aids, physical activity, targeted exercise, and strengthening techniques. 

This is where the Advanced Allied Health Group comes in.

Here are just a few ways we can help:

 

Maximise independence by boosting your ability to perform activities of daily living

Often, those with Down syndrome need a little extra support to perform tasks others take for granted.

At AAH Group our multidisciplinary team works extensively with children, teens, and adults with down syndrome. 

We empower them to independently manage day-to-day tasks and household activities like mobilising, cleaning, showering, and getting dressed. We create an individualised plan aiming to boost functional abilities, maintain a healthy weight and support physical and emotional health. 

We perform comprehensive assessments of our client’s condition, and functional abilities, then customise a program specific to their needs. 

Our occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and exercise physiologists, may use exercise, strengthening, gait training, sensory integration therapy, perpetual-motor therapy, and other techniques to improve overall health, strength, coordination, balance, mobility, and functional abilities. 

Our dietitian can provide education regarding nutritional requirements, training on how to manage specific conditions, food allergies, or intolerances, and help with planning and cooking healthy meals. 

Our podiatrists can assess the feet and lower limbs and identify common issues that can occur in down syndrome, such as flat feet. The podiatrist can create a treatment plan and make recommendations aimed at reducing discomfort and getting their clients moving as easily as possible. 

As abilities improve, performing activities of daily living becomes easier, increasing confidence and boosting independence.

 

Exercise programs

Exercise is good for all of us but for those with Down syndrome, it’s particularly important.

People living with down syndrome tend to have less strength, agility, and balance than others, as well as a lower aerobic capacity and a tendency towards obesity. 

The team at the AAH Group collaborates to create an individualised exercise program, taking into consideration exercise preferences, health goals, and any personal limitations.

Even better, we can arrange your exercise program around you.

Love an outing? If you’d like to come into one of our state-of-the-art clinics for your training sessions, we’d love to have you.

Bit of a homebody? We can come to you and train at your place.

Enjoy swimming? We could even meet you at the pool for a hydrotherapy session!

It’s important to us that we find a routine that our clients love, then we modify the program as they progress. 

We work hard to make sure our clients are interested, challenged, and having fun!

 

Advice on the management of your condition

Have you got questions or concerns? Do you need a hand managing a specific aspect of your loved one’s condition? 

The multidisciplinary team at AAH group can provide advice, consultation, and support to families and carers of those with down syndrome.

We’re here to help you address specific challenges, to teach you how to improve function and fitness, to promote safety and independence, and to adopt a healthy understanding of diet and food. 

We educate and empower families and care teams to help their loved ones and clients lead healthier, more active lives.

 

Recommendations for mobility and equipment aids

Down syndrome presents a range of physical challenges which can complicate mobilising and performing tasks independently. 

Many of our clients need recommendations, and training on the use of aids that ensure they can function safely and easily and help increase independence. 

For example, down syndrome can cause poor hand-eye coordination, and reduced fine motor skills, making it difficult for some to eat independently. We can help our clients learn to feed themselves with specifically adapted cutlery, plates, and bowls. 

Where required we can also provide recommendations on aids to help with mobilisation, toileting, showering, eating, and many other daily tasks.

 

How you can work with the AAH Group

At AAH our allied health professionals collaborate to improve your health and well-being through individualised, evidence-based care. 

We understand that for many of our clients’ travel can be difficult which is why we make it as easy as possible to access our services, in a way that suits you. 

We’d love to welcome you to our state-of-the-art clinic, or we can meet you at the pool for a hydrotherapy session. We could also visit you in your home. In some cases, we can even offer the convenience of a telehealth consultation.

We are proud that we have no waiting lists for down syndrome NDIS services, because we want our clients to have access to the services they need, when they need them. 

That’s why, when you contact us, we’ll book an appointment within 24-48 hours.

We accept all major health funds as well as Medicare, NDIS, and home care packages.

Contact us today to discover how we can help you.

 

References 

Down Syndrome Australia. (2023). What is Down Syndrome? 

www.downsyndrome.org.au/about-down-syndrome/what-is-down-syndrome/

Healthdirect. (2022). Down Syndrome. www.healthdirect.gov.au/down-syndrome

 

*All information is general in nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Advanced Allied Health Group can consult with you to confirm if this advice is right for you.