Quiz: Down Syndrome I

This is the first of our Talk and Total quizzes on the subject of Down syndrome and how it relates to child development. To browse through all of our quizzes on this topic and others, visit our Quiz Page: Browse our other quizzes.

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2. Langdon Down, in 1866, coined which of the following terms to describe children with Down syndrome?

   1. Mongoloid
   2. Down’s Syndrome
   3. Down syndrome
   4. Trisomy 21

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   In 1866, Langdon Down described these children as appearing to look like individuals from Mongolia with slanted eyes, short posture, and a broad face. This is now considered a pejorative term. In 1961 eighteen geneticists suggested the name be changed to Down’s Syndrome. Later, in 1975, the United States National Institute of Health recommended suspending the possessive form, since Down neither had nor owned the term.
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3. Which of the following is not a type of Down syndrome?

   1. Trisomy 21
   2. Mosaic
   3. Translocation
   4. Trisomy 18

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   Trisomy 18 is not a type of Down syndrome, but it presents with similar symptoms. It is the second most common chromosomal defect and occurs in about 1 in 7,000 births. Down syndrome is the most common, and occurrs in 1 in 671 births. Among the types of DS, Trisomy 21 is most common at 92%, Mosaic (Trisomy mixed with a normal cell) occurs at approximately 1% and Translocation (part or all of the chromosome 21 translocated to another chromosome, usually chromosome 14) in 7-8%.
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4. Children with Down syndrome present with a variety of health issues, one common occurrence is congenital heart defects. What percent of children with Down syndrome will need heart surgery?

   1. 20-30%
   2. 30-40%
   3. 40-50%
   4. 50-60%

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   By the end of adolescence nearly 50% of children with Down syndrome will need some form of heart surgery.
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5. Another common health issue in these children is hearing loss. What percent of children with Down syndrome have a hearing loss?

   1. 40-50%
   2. 50-60%
   3. 60-70%
   4. All of the children

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   The most frequent cause of hearing impairment is a conductive hearing loss, or blockage of sound due to middle ear pathology; but, sensory neural hearing impairment, or a permanent hearing loss, is also frequent. Combined together, it is estimated that as many as 70% of children with Down syndrome will have a conductive or sensory neural hearing loss.
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6. Another common health concern is a gastrointestinal issue known as Celiac disease, which in the general population occurs in 1 in every 3,000 individuals. How often does it occur in individuals with Down syndrome?

   1. 5%
   2. 17%
   3. 29%
   4. 44%

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   Nearly 17% of all individuals with Down syndrome present with Celiac disease, a gasteroiestinal problem with a sensitivity to gluten. Some 12% of individuals with Down syndrome will need surgery.
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7. In 1929 life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome was 9 years. Today, due to advances in medical care and surgery, life expectancy in individuals with Down syndrome is?

   1. 25 years
   2. 45 years
   3. 60 years
   4. 80 years

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   Life expectancy is now between 55-60 years of age, with many individuals living beyond that.
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