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Speech and Language Therapy

The Lifelong Importance of Speech and Language Therapy for People with Down Syndrome 

Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) plays a vital role in supporting individuals with Down syndrome across every stage of life—from infancy through adulthood and into later years. Communication is central to connecting with others, learning, independence, and emotional wellbeing. For people with Down syndrome, SLT provides essential tools and strategies to help them reach their full communicative potential. 

Infancy: Laying the Foundations

In the early years, SLT focuses on feeding skills and early interaction. Many babies with Down syndrome experience low muscle tone, which can affect feeding, swallowing, and later, speech clarity. Early intervention support parents with feeding techniques and begins building communication foundations by supporting the development of engagement, play skills and babbling.

Childhood: Building Language and Communication Skills

As children grow, SLT helps develop both understanding and use of language. Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) strategies, such as picture-based supports or communication apps, may be introduced to support expressive communication. Lámh, a manual signing system used in Ireland, is often a powerful support for children with Down syndrome. It encourages communication while verbal speech is developing and helps reduce frustration.

Young Adulthood: Fostering Independence and Social Skills

In young adulthood, SLT continues to support speech clarity, vocabulary, and social communication skills, helping individuals express their needs, build relationships, and engage in education or employment. AAC and Lámh may still be useful tools, depending on individual needs. Therapy can also support problem-solving, understanding abstract language, and managing social situations.

Later Years: Adapting to Change

As people with Down syndrome age, they may experience changes in communication or memory. SLT can provide strategies to support comprehension, expression, and engagement in daily life. Feeding and swallowing support often becomes important again, particularly if age-related health issues arise. 

Speech and Language Therapy is not a one-time intervention—it’s a dynamic, evolving support that adapts to the person’s needs at each stage of life. Whether through spoken words, Lámh, or AAC tools, the goal remains the same: to empower people with Down syndrome to connect, express themselves, and participate fully in their world. 

SLT in Down Syndrome Kerry

Kerry SLT Clinic (www.kerryslt.ie) has been providing services to the member of DSK (from babies to adults) for a number of years. We are committed to deliver individualised approach through clinic or school based sessions. We also organise seasonal activities such as social skills training, school preparation groups, summer camps. There are seven SLTs currently working in the clinic.  

If you are availing of SLT already and wish to discuss any clinical matter, first of all please contact your SLT directly. If you wish to contact Dominika (Clinical Director) or David (clinic Manager), please email info@kerryslt.ie.   

For more information about SLT provision within Down Syndrome Kerry (including if you wish to start SLT) please Operations Manager Siobhán at siobhanwalsh@downsyndrome.ie  

How we help

Parent Link

Parent Link is a voluntary support and information service for new parents of babies with Down syndrome in Kerry and the surrounding areas.
The service is led by parents of children with Down syndrome who are trained in Parent Link by Down Syndrome Ireland.
As parents, they are familiar with the feelings and reactions of having a child with Down syndrome in the family.
Parent Pack

How we help

Employment Support

DSK provides training and support to adults with Down syndrome, both in and out of the workforce. This includes job readiness training, on-the-job support, soft skills development, and collaboration with employers, social care settings, and caregivers.
Our specialists help members build job-specific skills, independence, and confidence through tailored approaches like visual aids, task breakdown, repetition, and positive reinforcement.

How we help

Physiotherapy

Why do children with Down syndrome need Physiotherapy? Individuals with Ds have hypotonia (low muscle tone) and as babies they are often identified as being “floppy”. The level of hypotonia can vary from child to child but with intervention and improved movement skills the muscle tone will improve. Children with Down syndrome have decreased muscle strength, and this affects a child’s ability to carry out smooth purposeful movement. Children with Ds also have ligament laxity which makes them extra flexible at their joints but having too much movement at joints can make a person unstable and it can cause difficulty with early skills like crawling and standing.

Children with Ds can have shorter arms and legs which can cause difficulties with balance and movement. In addition there are sensory processing deficits in all the sensory systems as well as impaired ability to take in and register sensory input. Some children can present as clumsy, easily distracted, have poor listening and attention skills, seem to play” too rough” or dislike certain noises or textures and using a sensory integrative approach in physiotherapy is beneficial to these children.

Physiotherapy aims to address any developmental problems that arise, to improve muscle strength and to increase tone in order to help a child maximize their function. It also aims to prevent poor compensatory movement patterns that can cause problems later in life. The goal of Physiotherapy is to enable an individual to achieve maximal functional independence for improved quality of life regardless of a person’s age or ability. For further inquiries contact info@kerry.downsyndrome.ie.

How we help

Behavioural Therapy

Behavioural Therapy broadly entails the provision of Positive Behaviour Support services to children/young people and their families.
Behavioural Therapy aims to teach skills including independent living skills, task engagement, functional play skills, emotional regulation and coping skills, with a view to supporting children and young people to reach individualised goals. The focus is often on behaviours that challenge. Through a functional assessment of the behaviour, the reason why the young person is engaging in this behaviour can be identified. A Behaviour Support Plan is then devised in conjunction with the young person, their parents and often their educational team. This prioritizes the teaching of adaptive skills, thus reducing the young person’s need to engage in the behavior that challenges. The process is always client-centred and tailored to support the young person reach their own potential. Supporting parents and other people within the young person’s life also forms a large component of this work.

How we help

Counselling

DSK can arrange to provide member families with psychological support if required.
All appointments are made in the strictest of confidence.

Contact DSK office on 0667103804.

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Courses

Lámh

Lámh is the manual sign system used by children and adults with intellectual disability and communication needs in Ireland. Lámh was originally developed in the early 1980s in order to have a unified, standardised, Irish-based approach to signing for those with intellectual disabilities and communication needs.
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Courses

Numicon

Numicon is a distinctive multi-sensory approach to children’s mathematical learning that emphasises three key aspects of doing mathematics:

• Communicating mathematically 
• Exploring relationships
• Solving problems in everyday life experiences (generalising)

Please contact DSK office on 0667103804 for the next available courses

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