First Trimester Screening & Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
- What it is
Down syndrome is the most common cause of learning difficulties in humans. It occurs in approximately 1 out of every 700 babies.
All individuals with Down syndrome will have some degree of learning disability. They are also at higher risk of medical problems such as heart defects, abnormalities of the digestive system, problems with hearing and vision,
seizures, thyroid problems and childhood blood cancer. Life expectancy is around 40 to 60 years.
The severity of the condition varies from person to person. Antenatal testing can tell if a baby has Down syndrome, but cannot predict how severely an individual will be affected.
