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The Down Syndrome Program at Akron Children’s Hospital uses a multi-disciplinary approach to provide medical care and developmental services to children with Down syndrome and their families.

• Developmental and behavioral pediatrics, including a complete developmental and medical overview to bring all information about each child together to make specific medical and developmental recommendations. 
• Genetic counseling, including an overview of Trisomy 21, the condition that causes Down syndrome; health and developmental implications for the child and the family; the possibility of recurrence for parents and other family members; prenatal screening and diagnostic testing; and a review of relevant medical and family history. 
• Cardiology, to assess and treat conditions common to children with Down syndrome, such as congenital heart defects and high blood pressure in the lungs. 
• Adolescent medicine, to address the social, physical and emotional concerns of kids with Down syndrome as they approach and experience their teen years. 
• Speech and hearing therapy, including careful observation and testing of a child’s language, speech and hearing abilities. If needed, our therapists will help families with assistive devices such as hearing aids, earmolds, telephone amplifiers and TDDs. 
• Physical therapy, to maintain and enhance strength, mobility, balance, tone and coordination. Staff will also assist with home exercise programs, service coordination, ongoing education, orthotic management, and equipment design and fabrication. 
• Occupational therapy, focusing on strength, posture, fine and visual motor skills development, reflexes, sensory processing abilities, and overcoming psychosocial difficulties. 
• Nutritional services, assessments and nutritional care plans for children with special diets or feeding problems.