Having a family member with Down syndrome is a unique and personal journey. Although this journey can be a blend of beauty, creativity and joyous celebration, families also encounter uncertainties about what the future may hold. Our mission is to help all patients reach their full potential and function as independently as possible in family, school and community life.
Who We Serve
The Down Syndrome Clinic and Research Center provides interdisciplinary and comprehensive evaluations and services from birth to adulthood to patients from all over the United States. We specialize in assisting patients with challenges including:
- Pediatric developmental delay
- Complex neurodevelopmental and behavioral concerns
- Adolescent and adult mental health needs
We emphasize clinical care and research to treat underlying cognitive and neurobehavioral dysfunction, and continue to develop research studies to examine that neurobiological basis of intellectual and co-occurring mental health impairments in Down syndrome.
Although we are currently focused on providing individualized clinical evaluation and management, professional training, and research, it is our goal to continue building a comprehensive Down Syndrome Clinic and Research Center that provides seamless integration between clinical services and research in the areas of clinical neuroscience, pharmacology, sleep medicine, and behavioral-mental health interventions.
Our Approach
Despite advances in early intervention programing and medical and surgical care, many children with Down syndrome continue to experience significant challenges with cognition, speech and language. Some may experience secondary conditions due to unrecognized or chronic challenges with sleep, behavior and emotions. With this in mind, our team of experts provides evaluations, consultations and treatment in the following areas:
- Medical care
- Audiology
- Physical therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Behavioral psychology
- Nutrition
The following services are provided in the clinic, home, school and other community settings:
- Clinical psychology
- Social work
- Occupational therapy
Our Research Program
Our clinical research programs play a direct role in patient care as well as finding and developing effective therapies for conditions that co-occur with Down syndrome. Please visit Kennedy Krieger's Participate in Research page to learn more about our current clinical studies and trials.