Promoting language development for children with Down's syndrome

Children with Down's syndrome present with more speech and language impairments then their typically developing peers, but impairments specific to the syndrome have yet to be identified. The range of communication impairments is similar to that encountered in the general paediatric population. Some may experience difficulties with the content (semantics) or the form (grammar, phonology) of the language, or with its use in interpersonal communication (pragmatics). Difficulties may also arise with speech intelligibility, voice and fluency. This article outlines some of the constraints on the development of communication skills encountered by infants and children with Down's syndrome. It provides some suggestions to limit the impact of such constraints and refers the reader to accessible sources for further information.