5 Ways the Doman Method® can help your Child with Down Syndrome

By Susanna Di Castro Horn

March 21st is Trisomy 21 Day across the World. I want to celebrate this day and children by telling you how the Doman Method® has helped children with Down Syndrome. Historically, these children were considered to be hopeless, because their genetic condition was believed to stop them from developing entirely.

We know that Trisomy 21 manifests itself with a series of physical, physiological and cognitive symptoms that can cause a delay in all or most development areas of the child.

Most common symptoms are learning problems, vision and hearing problems. Sometimes a child might have heart defects, muscle problems, digestive and metabolic problems. The severity of these problems completely varies from child to child.  

Learning and Language problems: We teach Children with DS to read with the Doman Method reading program. Kids often learn to read effortlessly and some of them become phenomenal readers. Some become speed readers and read books at much higher levels than their peers. Some even start to read as babies! We teach them math with our methods and programs, and we have seen T21 children learn not only basic arithmetic, but algebra and higher level math. They enjoy and love learning. Our language development program will help DS children with no language or poor, unclear language. We also enhance the oxygenation of the brain, we teach the child to breathe deeper, and with a regular rhythm, to improve the ability to breathe and to talk.

Watch 3 year old Shravi, with Down Syndrome, read!

Low muscle tone: In children with Down Syndrome, mobility milestones are usually achieved late, compared to children with no disabilities. Our physical program improves muscle tone, and speeds up physical development. We teach children to move following the natural stages of physical development, without skipping any milestones. When we are able to teach a child to crawl, creep, walk and run in a normal way, it also results in improving vision, cognitive ability and language skills.

Spencer Doman describes why genetic disorders are not a life sentence!

Heart defects: About half of babies with Down syndrome have heart defects. Some defects are minor and can be treated with medication. Others may need surgery. At Doman International, we teach a balanced diet designed for each child, which takes into consideration any problem at the physiological, metabolic, and digestive level the child may have. The goal of the child’s Nutrition Program is improved health. Our Doman Method® Oxygenation Program helps  children increase the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, which improves brain function.

Vision and hearing problems: the most common visual problems for kids with Down Syndrome are strabismus and convergence problems, and many kids also have near and farsightedness*. We have Visual Integration programs to improve vision in children who have strabismus and convergence issues. Many kids with  Down Syndrome also have auditory challenges, with some children having hearing problems and some being too sensitive to sounds.  The Doman Method® Auditory Integration Programs are designed to lower and/or eliminate the hypersensitivity to sounds or to improve the hearing in children who have hearing impairment.

Digestive problems: Some babies with Down syndrome are born with intestinal structure problems that need surgery*. We design a diet for each child for their different physiological problems, eliminating foods that can cause inflammation and that kids are frequently allergic and intolerant to. We introduce an ideal supplement regimen. We focus on improving the digestive and immune system of children who follow our integrative holistic program.

The Doman Method® has helped thousands of kids with Down Syndrome and other genetic abnormalities, and will continue to help many more kids in future decades. If you would like to see the results of children on our program, you can read their major developmental gains here: https://www.domaninternational.org/program-success

 * https://www.ndss.org/resources/vision-down-syndrome/ (FOR THIS ARTICLE, NDSS INTERVIEWED DANIELLE LEDOUX, MD ASSISTANT IN OPHTHALMOLOGY AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, BOSTON AND INSTRUCTOR IN OPHTHALMOLOGY AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL)

**https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/for-families-and-carers/health-and-well-being/hearing-loss/

***.https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=down-syndrome-trisomy-21-90-P02356