Responses are due on Monday, Feb. 9, at class time.
This article discusses findings from research done on Down syndrome. It is quite extensive and articulate. Before talking about the findings of the article it is first necessary to understand the subject. Downs syndrome, formally referred to as Trisomy 21, is a disorder affecting children from birth. It has many characteristics, but the focus of this article is the learning disabilities of the children.
Since learning to speak is vital to a growing child, it is understandable that children with Downs syndrome experience difficulty later in life. Mainly because these children could not gain these necessary tools because of their impairment. Children with this disorder also have poor short term memory, which is studied alongside the language impairments of these specific children. In the article the term nonword is used often; it is just that, a nonword. Simply syllables thrown together to study the memory retention of Down syndrome kids. The Nonword Repetition Test was devised by Gathercole and Baddely and incorporated 33 children, ages 5-18. The study would place one of these children where the mouth movements of the speaker could not be seen, and after hearing a nonword or word the child would be ask to repeat what he or she heard. This was set up to measure verbal short term.
Most of the information on the development of Downs syndrome is based off of the Nonword Repetition Test. Although, most information is based of this it is, "far from a clear picture, with many contradictory results." Within the article, many correlations were made. Whether between age and memory, or nonword and age, there was a contradiction. Nothing was precise, or clear. Overall, children with Downs syndrome scored poorer on recall of auditory information, but also in memory of it. Poor memory would contribute to a reduced vocabulary, but yet the vocabulary leads to a better grammatical understanding. Although there are many contradictions, any research needs to consider a child's reading ability, for this accounts for a lot of the results.
Even though Downs syndrome children have learning impairments they can still learn new language all the way to adulthood. It is beneficial to them to have the most advanced vocabulary possible, as well as frequently exposed to reading, and speaking. It has been shown that a teacher's adapted methods can play a large role in the learning abilities of children with Downs syndrome.
18 comments:
I know very little about Downs syndrome. However, I do have a friend who's younger brother has Downs Syndrome. He is 7 years old now. He can walk with walker and is just now starting to speak. He doesn't know full words just sounds. He has made sounds for several years now. I do not find it surprising that children and adults with Downs Syndrome have a hard time learning language. I do know that it is possible for a child with Downs Syndrome to learn a language. I cannot wait to see my friends brother learn language and be able to express his feeling and thoughts in words. His family is very proud of him and his accomplishments and they deserve miracles with their child.
After watching the you tube video about the woman who showed the world that she can communicate, I think it is possible for people with Down Syndrome to retain a learning of words the more they hear them. I sympathize with them having a hard time repeating and recalling a nonword they heard earlier. I don't think it is in their mindset to recall words and connect them in the same way that we do on a daily basis. I believe their minds work in a different way than ours do and you can't expect them to learn in a similar way to ours.
Although I'm not as credible as a "down syndrome" specialist, just being a spectator, it must truly be a harsh struggle for these children. I've been in classes with other "down syndrome" students and watching first-hand these experiences, just proves that their learning capabilities are far more deficit than ours. There are some things in life that are incurable or that can't be completely "fixed." I feel, as I did in reference to the "Tourette" article, that if students are placed in environments with proper techniques and staff, they'll learn all there is required to the highest degree. As the saying goes, "There's science, and then there comes... GOD" (depending on your faith that is). As far as the NONword Repetition Test, although it strives to better the speaking skills of down syndrome students, I feel through all their efforts, it's inaccurate. Personally, I rely on my faith for such circumstances and keep it going.
It is difficult for me to say how children with Downs Syndrome should be taught, since I have very little knowledge about the disease. It seems that the scientific community needs to conduct more research in order to produce more conclusive results. It is important that teachers have all of the information that they need to properly educate these children. I think it would also be helpful to provide children with Downs Syndrome with more specialized education. Their disability makes it impossible for them to learn in the same way that children without disabilities learn. It may not be possible to transform the language of these children; however, it may be possible to make life a little easier for them. Scientists, educators, and the general public must work together to find the answers.
After reading articles and watching documents on Down Syndrome, I have realized just how difficult things can be for those you are affected by it. My first experience with the disease was with my bestfriends sister. She is now at the age of 25 but at the time I met her she was 10. Her speech was well enough to understand but obviously not as advanced as others in her age group. However, she continued to learn more and more each day. It has been said that after a certain age, there is really nothing more left to do but she is striving for better. Her speech has been getting better every year. I believe she has already broke barriers and stereotypes, therefore I believe that there is hope for children that are facing it today.
I have not had much experience with Down Syndrome children. I do, believe, however, that children with this syndrome can learn a language as best as any person can. There are different techniques for learning languages, so a child with Down Syndrome can learn just by using different techniques. I found the Nonword test to be interesting. I had never heard of this before. Overall, I believe a child with Down Syndrome is just as capable as any person. They may not learn at the same rate as other students, but it is possible.
When I was in 6th grade a boy with Downs syndrome joined our glass. He was 4 years older than us and had just been put into public school after many years of his parents trying to persuade the school board to let him in. He continued with us throughout middle school and into high school. He was (and still is) the sweetest person I have ever met. It is a little bit hard to understand him when he talks, but he is so smart. He did everything that we did. Our senior year of high school we found out that after many years he would graduate. He leaped across the stage at graduation with a huge smile as we all gave him a standing ovation. His parents were so proud, I think I can honestly say I have never seen someone's parents as overwhelmed with pride as they were. Though he won't be able to ever get a job or move out of his parents home, I know what an amazing and smart person he is. He has accomplished so much from the time that his parents were told that he would never be able to attend public school when he was just 5 years old. I think it depends on the person and their desire to excel that would allow him/her to do this. I don't think you can generalize people with Downs syndrome into one group, they are all in different stages of the syndrome. I think that every person with Downs syndrome will learn different and that they each need their own style of teaching to help them along.
When I read the articles, I still didn't feel connected to the subject because I've never had any experience with anyone who had Down Syndrome. The most knowledge I had on the subject was from movies and I don't really consider those to be good sources. I learned a lot from the articles and I think it's odd how different syndromes produce different affects in people. After reading, I searched youtube for videos on down syndrome and found a documentary found on a man who has down syndrome. Besides the way that he talks, which is only as bad as someone who mumbles a lot, you wouldn't be able to tell that he's not like everyone else: he's energetic, imaginative, and full of stories. I watched another video on people with down syndrome explaining what they want to accomplish with their lives. I think it's awesome that regardless of their "disability" they are able to learn and accomplish goals.
I have never met anybody with Downs Syndrome personally. However, my High School had a very good Special Education Program. Students with special needs, including Down Syndrome, are allowed to attend Public School until they are twenty- one. My Aunt and Uncle are teachers at my High School as well, and have said how much these students enjoy school and are the few students to truly be happy to going to school.
I feel that students with Down Syndrome are some of the most amazing students because despite their disabilities they can accomplish so much and that is something everyone can be proud of.
I have learned a lot about Down Symdrome over time. I know a little girl who has it and she is amazing. Her mom took vitamins before she was pregnant and the baby turned out to have a mild case of Down Syndrome. She can walk, plays on a softball team for special children, goes to a regular school, and can speak fairly well. It's not impossible for them to leave language it just takes a litle longer and isn't always clear. They are very special people who just need a little help but aren' that different.
Yet another interesting article, this one also helped me see how different abilities within language speaking and writing are separated or related in the brain. I gathered that lack short term phonological memory needed for accumulation of grammar and vocabulary knowledge is a huge stumbling block for sufferers of Down's Syndrome and their teachers. It makes sense that, if one can never even remember a structure long enough to repeat it, he or she cannot recite or practice it, and definitely cannot use it in conversation. When it comes to these students, though, they may have so many different obstacles standing in the way of language learning and usage - inhibited muscular development and control, hearing problems, etc. Hopefully this nonword repetition test will help researchers develop more effective therapies to target the specific shortcomings of each individual disabled student.
Since I have no prior experience being around someone with Downs syndrome I didn’t realize that one of the problems associated with it was memory loss. I can definitely see how that could be a major hurdle they most overcome in learning language skills (as well as learning just about anything else). However, because they are capable of overcoming this hurdle they can learn their language skills just as well as anybody else but sometimes need the teacher to implement different strategies.
Down syndrome is a disorder whose symptoms are either very noticeable, or none at all. Individuals with Down syndrome tend to have a lower than average cognitive ability, often ranging from mild to moderate developmental disabilities. A small number have severe to profound mental disability. However, it should not be a question on whether they should have the opportunity to learn denied. Everyone is capable of doing wonderful things; they are just sometimes expressed in different ways.
I learned a bit about Downs Syndrome from this. The only way we are going to learn the best way to teach people with this condition, is through studies, and I think we still have a long way to go.
Having a crutch in one's speech pattern or language can be absolutely brutal for anyone going through school in his or her early years. Downs syndrome only magnifies this, and with much research still yet to be done, people are not quite sure the exact limitations of the disorder. Discovering that people with this syndrome can learn a form of language is encouraging, and through time hopefully the methods will improve enabling them for a better feel and understanding into society.
I don't know the scientific details about Downs Syndrome but there was a girl who had Downs Syndrome in my class from 6-8th grade so I am somewhat familiar with interacting with them. This particular individual would go with all of us to all of our classes but she would have a special teacher follow as well to give her different assignments but she would still be included in most classroom discussions and activities. I really think this helped her as an individual because she got the help she needed and she could still interact with kids her age. I think this is the best way to help a person with Downs Syndrome learn in school.
Ok, here we go back to underestimating someone else's ability. Just because someone is different from you, doesn't mean that they are any less intelligent than you. I personally feel that people having Downs Syndrome, although they might process information differently than those who don't have DS, are just as intelligent as everyone else. They only cannot express themselves as we who don't have DS traditionally do.
I went to school with two children that were Down Syndrome. Both could communicate with everyone in the school and have wonderful attitudes towards learning and school in general. Each of these kids had their own personal aids that assisted throughout the day at school and both of them graduated with us on regular schedule.
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