Parents and medical community realize true potential CHILDREN WITH Down Syndrome are kids first says North Shore community health nurse Pamela Jenkins. By Kate Zimmerman News Reporter And that’s how their parents and caregivers like to describe them, as “children with Down Syndrome” rather than Down Syndrome chil- _ dren. Jenkins said it’s interesting how ‘quickly parents of babies born with . this genetic disorder stop regarding ‘their offspring as: “disabled” and -start thinking of them simply as: kids... “Initially when a child is born with this, the big issue is finding out about it,” she said. But after parents have been edu- cited about Down Syndrome (also “known as Trisomy), their attitude changes. Jenkins sees lots of par- sents who say, “‘My child has Down _ Syndrome but jet me tell you, my child is going to be the smartest _child with Down Syndrome you “ever saw.” - “That's what everyone wants for their kids — that.they grow up to be happy, successful individuals.” On average. there i is one baby “born: with Down Syndrome for every 600. without it, Two to four “such infants are born annually on “the North Shore. « “2.°The condition’s attendant health problems, such-as the heart ail- ments which ‘afflict 50% of babies. - “tend to preoccupy parents at. first.’ ‘There can be difficulties feeding the infants because their sucking ability is weak, due to a large tongue and a small upper jaw. Je The diagnosis comes soon after birth. when medical staff watch for low muscle tone, a fat bridge to the nose which results in distinctive “eye fold‘and a wide space between the big toe and the next toc. “But nothing is certain uniil-a chromosomal analysis is completed - and ‘itis. determined that the baby has 47 chromosomes, rather than the usual 46, According to community health nurse Wendy Eves, many parents then suddealy jump ahead 18 -years and start worrying about who will take care of their.children once they are adults, “E really find you have to bring them back and say, ‘You have a beautiful baby here. Why dont we feed it?” | The future for these children is -bright — particularly compared --: with their prospects in the past. * “Historically, our way of treat- ing people with Down Syndrome * ywas to institutionalize them,” said Jenkins. “They were put into the - ‘ abnonnal situation of a herd of kids .ina dorm, looked after by a staff _ which rotated every eight hours. ft was an extraordinary family that kept its child at home.” SEPARATE ADMISSION FEATURES THE WEDDING BANQUET Nightly % 05pm, SavSun 2:50pm SK DEGREES OF SEPARATION Monty 2:00am. Sat/Sun. “50pm And these families offen kept their situation a secret. said Eves. There was even a medical bias agtinst treating heart abnormalities in babies with Down Syndrome. Jenkins said, because some people felt it was best to let nature Gike its course. Life expectancy was below average because health problenis weren't aggressively tackled by medical practitioners, Even now. kids with Down Syndrome often contend with visu- al and tactile limitations. . “Tt has only been in the last 15 years that we've seen a real move- ment to offering restorative surgery to all kids," Jenkins said, In the past, ear infections and _ blockages, which are common in Down Syndrome children, some- times went unattended, resulting in hearing loss. If the children could not hear, they had trouble learning to speak. “IC is appalling how many older ’ peoplé with Down Syndrome have ‘no speech © said Jenkins. “Now- adays we teacn signing and speech atthe same time.” Because of these various factors, children with Down Syndrome used to be almost invisible and were cer- tainly not encouraged to fulfill their true potential. In some countries, the stigma still holds, Jenkins said, but in Canada the prospects of such kids have improved dramatically and’ many of them grow up to be “contributing individuals.” “There are more opportunities for them to live adult lives than we ever thought before,” said Jenkins, noting that the life expectancy for people with Down Syndrome is now closer to that of the average person. These days, some of the more obvious disabilities can be gounter- acted, The facial features that have long distinguished a person with Down Syndrome are now some- limes transformed via plastic surgery — the large tongue, for example, can be surgically trimmed to better fit the mouth. And children with Down Syndrome are now integrated into the school system, beginning even before preschool with mom and tot programs. Society is starting to regard them as individuals, rather than Jumping them in together as a disadvantaged group. Their degrees of mental disabili- ty vary, said Eves, But in general terms, “You can't expect people with Down Syndrome to sit at the back of the classroom and simply absorb. It takes longer to learn.” The nurses agree that these chil- dren take longer than usual to pick up on social cues. While society once shunned the person with Down Syndrome as hopelessly “retarded,” more recent- ly people have made equally inac- curate, if more positive. generaliza- tions. “They used to say that Down Syndrome children were pleasantly happy all the time,” said Eves, “But they have their moods, like other kids. “If they have good, loving, nur: turing families, they graw up to be good adults.” she added. “Now these kids are growing up with something to grow up for.” (These writs were filed with the court regisiry in Vancouver between Feb. Sand Feb. 28, 1994, information is taken from the statements of clain} Plaintiff: Marathon Realty Co. Lid., 2100-200 Granville SL. Vancouver. 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YOU TOS CAN TAKE HOLD OF YOUR FINANCIAL FREEDOM TORBAY. ‘Call Peter Schulhof or Mike 682-2255 o7 250-2857 INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT PROPERTIES — oe Set | For Senior Citizens Plaintiff: 814459 Ontario Inc., operating as Radix and Van Laack, S.A., and Werner Kuhimann, Collektion Sportswear GMBH (Gianni Bugli). c/o 1000-885 West Georgia St.. Vancouver. Hefendant: Trevenen Apparel Lid., 5711 Owl Crt. ‘Notih Vancouver. Claim: $23,905.18 for clothing. Plaintiff: Nankang U.S.A. Inc., c/o 1180-666 Burrard St: Defendant: T&L Tire World (1991) Inc.. c/o 5-3045 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver. Claim: $13,386. SEPARATE ADMISSION FEATURES . BEETHOVEN'S 2ND Nightly 6:50pm, SalSun 2:45pm General THE PIANO Nightly 8:30pm, SaySun 4:40pm 14 years A SHADOWLANDS Nightly 7:00pm, Sat/Sun. 4:30pm General LL. DO ANYTHING Nightly 9:15pm (NORTH VANCOUVER) - Hearing tests will be given at the Beltone Hearing Aid Centre on Monday to Thursdey from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Anyone who has trouble hearing is welcome to have the test. Many people with hearing problems don't need hearing aids. But only a modern hear- ing test like the one now being offered by Beltone can really tell for sure. Everyone should have a hearing test at leasi once a year — even people now wearing a - hearing aid or those who have been told nothing could be done for them.’ Only a hearing test can determine if modern methods of hearing amplifica- tion can help them hear better. The hearing tests will be given Monday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in North Vancouver. In-home testing is also available. Please phone ‘for an appointment. . DVA TAPS CARDS ACCEPTEL E LEBRATING tie SOUNDS OF LIFE Call: 988-4477 304 - 1124 Lonsdale {across from North Shcre News) T. Ashton, L Zhang - Audologist and Hearing Spodalst Registored Under Hoaring Aid Act B.C,