Addressing Behavioral Health in Patients with Down Syndrome

Many children struggle with particular behavior challenges, such as aggression, impulsivity and poor listening skills. Although this is normal for a developing child, over 90% of children with Down syndrome experience one or more behavioral problems weekly or daily. These behaviors impact the child and can become significant stressors for parents and caregivers.

Listen to pediatric experts discuss Down syndrome behavioral health

In this episode, Lina Patel, PsyD, and Monique Germone, PhD, share strategies that primary care providers can use to help persons with Down syndrome and their families cope with these challenges and live life to the fullest.

Dr. Patel is the Director of the Down Syndrome Behavioral Health Collaborative at Children's Hospital Colorado and is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Colorado School of Medicine.

Dr. Monique Germone is the associate director of the Down Syndrome Behavioral Health Collaborative and an associate professor at the Colorado School of medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• Most common behavioral concerns among children with Down syndrome
• Identifying reasons behind behavioral challenges
• How underlying medical conditions affect behaviors
• Helping families develop a framework for addressing behaviors
• Strategies to help patients better communicate their needs, including adult-directed choices

Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children's Colorado

The Sie Center provides expert medical and therapeutic intervention for children with Down syndrome in Colorado and surrounding states. It is one of the largest comprehensive teams caring for children with Down syndrome, located at our nationally ranked children's hospital as rated by U.S. News & World Report.