Each person with Down syndrome is an individual — intellectual and developmental problems may be mild, moderate or severe. Some people are healthy while others have significant health problems such as serious heart defects. Children and adults with Down syndrome have distinct facial features. Though not all people with Down syndrome have the same features, some of the more common features include:  Flattened face Small head Short neck Protruding tongue Upward slanting eye lids (palpebral fissures) Unusually shaped or small ears Poor muscle tone Broad, short hands with a single crease in the palm Relatively short fingers and small hands and feet Excessive flexibility Tiny white spots on the colored part (iris) of the eye called Brushfield's spots Short height  Infants with Down syndrome may be average size, but typically they grow slowly and remain shorter than other children the same age. Intellectual disabilities Most children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Language is delayed, and both short and long-term memory is affected.
person down syndrome individual — intellectual developmental problems may mild  moderate severe  people healthy significant health problems heart defects  children adults down syndrome distinct facial features  people down syndrome features  common features include:  flattened face small head short neck protruding tongue upward slanting eye lids (palpebral fissures) unusually shaped small ears poor muscle tone broad  short hands single crease palm short fingers small hands feet excessive flexibility tiny white spots colored part (iris) eye called brushfield's spots short height  infants down syndrome may average size  typically grow slowly remain shorter children age  intellectual disabilities children down syndrome mild moderate cognitive impairment  language delayed  short long-term memory affected
down syndrome