The Down Syndrome Health Care Guidelines follow an individual's development from birth through adulthood and provide information about potential health concerns at each stage. They are compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The guidelines help define the standards of quality care for individuals with Down syndrome. In addition to specific recommendations for screening tests, they include information about the kinds of medical conditions that individuals with Down syndrome are at risk for and suggestions for early intervention, diet and exercise, and other issues across the lifespan.

The late William I. Cohen, M.D., specialized in developmental and behavioral pediatrics in the Child Development Unit of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. He was director of the Down Syndrome Center of Western Pennsylvania and an associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Cohen also co-founded the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group. He was involved in previous versions of these health care guidelines and was medical editor of Down Syndrome Quarterly.

Contact Panhandle Down Syndrome Guild to learn more.