Introduction
People with Down syndrome and autism have similar symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose. But they are not the same condition, and it is important to understand the differences between them.
Not long ago, people with Down syndrome were regularly diagnosed with autism.
Not long ago, people with Down syndrome were regularly diagnosed with autism. This was because it was believed that the two disorders shared a common cause and could be treated similarly.
However, we now know that this is not the case. While both Down syndrome and autism are genetic conditions, they present in very different ways — so much so that they have been reclassified as separate disorders.
Although there is some overlap between people who have Down syndrome and those who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), these are distinct conditions that require different treatments and interventions.
Doctors, psychologists and educators are now distinguishing between the two syndromes.
Over the last decade, doctors and psychologists have made a distinction between autism and Down syndrome. The diagnosis of autism is more complicated than Down syndrome, so it’s important for parents to seek out qualified medical professionals who can provide accurate diagnoses. More research needs to be done on this topic so that we can better understand how the two conditions overlap.
A person with Down syndrome may be diagnosed as having autism, but the reverse is not true: a person cannot be diagnosed with having Down syndrome if they do not have an existing diagnosable condition like autism or other intellectual disabilities.
People with both conditions have cognitive impairment.
People with Down syndrome have cognitive impairment, as do those with autism. Individuals with both conditions also have similar social and communication skills.
However, people with Down syndrome typically show less severe language delays than children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This difference in severity may be due to the fact that children who receive an early diagnosis of ASD can benefit from intervention programs that teach them new skills or strategies for communicating. In addition, many children with Down syndrome develop better language abilities after age 2 or 3 years old when they no longer need constant supervision by their parents during everyday activities such as feeding or dressing themselves independently; this freedom allows them more opportunities for interactive playtime outside the home where they can begin learning words from other children their own age.
People with Down syndrome can be diagnosed as having autism, however.
In the United States, Down syndrome is not considered to be autism. However, in other countries that have a different approach to diagnosis than we do in America (such as England), people with Down syndrome can be diagnosed as having autism.
In reality, diagnosing someone who has both conditions can be difficult because there are so many overlapping symptoms between the two disorders: speech delays, social difficulties and repetitive behaviors. But if you’re concerned about whether your child has autism or just Down syndrome, it’s best to talk with your doctor about what he or she thinks is going on with your child
But the two conditions are not identical.
But Down syndrome is not considered autism.
Autism spectrum disorder has its own set of symptoms and characteristics, but it is not the same as Down syndrome. The main difference between the two conditions is that autism spectrum disorder affects a person’s ability to communicate with others, while Down syndrome does not. In addition to having an intellectual disability or lower IQ level than average, people with Down syndrome have mild-to-severe delays in speech development and motor skills. Although they can learn new words through repetition, their language may lack clarity or volume due to hearing loss.
Diagnosing someone who has both conditions can be difficult.
Although it’s rare, diagnosing someone who has both Down Syndrome and autism can be difficult. Autism itself is a spectrum disorder and there are many different types of autism, so the symptoms can vary greatly between individuals.
There are also some characteristics that overlap between Down Syndrome and autism. For example, people with Down syndrome often have low muscle tone (hypotonia), which means they’re likely to have trouble sitting up or walking when they’re babies and toddlers. They may also have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or nonverbally, which means they find it hard to communicate their needs or feelings with those around them.
However, other characteristics aren’t as clear: both children with Down Syndrome and those with autism tend to develop language skills slowly (and sometimes not at all), but this isn’t true for all cases of either condition; some children with Down Syndrome will speak fluently from an early age while others won’t start talking until much later; likewise some children with autism also speak normally from a very young age while others don’t utter their first word until well into elementary school.
Down Syndrome is not considered Autism
- Down Syndrome is not considered Autism.
- Down Syndrome is not a mental health condition or illness.
- Down Syndrome cannot be prevented by environmental factors, but can be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
- Children with Down syndrome should have the same opportunities as any other child, including access to education and socialization activities such as sports and clubs.
Conclusion
Diagnosing someone who has both Down syndrome and autism can be difficult. Doctors, psychologists and educators are now distinguishing between the two syndromes. People with both conditions have cognitive impairment, but they have different symptoms. People with Down syndrome can be diagnosed as having autism, however. But the two conditions are not identical.